Obesity is a significant health condition affecting about 15% of children and adolescents in the United States. The prevalence of obesity amongst children and adolescents has increased threefold over the past two decades.
Many factors lead to obesity in children, including lack of physical activity, unhealthy eating patterns, or a combination of the two, with genetics and lifestyle both playing important roles in determining weight.
The environment in which children live has a profound impact on weight, and junk food is readily available to many children. More and more families are eating on the go, while food eaten outside the home is higher in fat and lower in nutrients than food prepared at home.
Childhood obesity poses significant long-term health consequences, and can increase the severity of common childhood health problems such as asthma.
Overweight children are at greater risk of developing diabetes, as well as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, and subsequent heart disease. Overweight adolescents have a 70% chance of becoming overweight or obese adults.
Children's is working to increase awareness of the importance of physical activity and healthful eating amongst children, parents, educators, and healthcare providers.
Children's Obesity Action Team (COAT) is a multidisciplinary group of healthcare professionals dedicated to the development of culturally responsive and age-appropriate resources for families and healthcare professionals. The Team works to increase awareness, provide education, and facilitate action to decrease childhood obesity.
COAT has developed resources for healthcare professionals, children and their families about healthy eating, physical activity, and obesity.
Resources include:
- Age-specific packets for families to help guide them in their approach to healthy eating and activity. Parents may call the Children's Resource Line at 206-987-2500, option 4, or 866-987-2500, option 4, to request a free Healthy Eating/Activity Packet for their child's age; preschool, school-age or teen.
- Provider Packets with current information about childhood obesity, useful tools for the office environment to promote the message of a healthy lifestyle, and copies of the age-specific family educational materials. Providers can also call the Children's Resource Line at 206-987-2500, option 4 to obtain a copy.
The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to children's health and recognizes childhood overweight and obesity as a serious health concern, and continues to work for improvements in obesity prevention and treatment.
For more information contact Mary Jones, MS, RD, or Patty Hencz, RN.