Nutrition/ Obesity
WORKGROUP RELEASES POSITION PAPER
In 2004, roughly one quarter of Arizona’s children ages 2-5 years old were overweight or at risk for being overweight. Even in preschoolers, being overweight puts children at risk for significant health problems and psychosocial problems. Greater than 4 hours of TV viewing daily results in children with a significantly increased BMI over children who watch less than 2 hours per day. That may relate to the fact that the TV viewing results in preschoolers seeing an average of 10,000 commercials per year for fast foods, soft drinks, candy and sugar laden foods or the fact that viewing TV precludes active play. Numerous studies have demonstrated that being breast fed in the first year decreases one’s risk for obesity.
Pediatricians have difficulty accessing appropriate medical care for obese children and families because of lack of coverage for nutritional assessment and counseling, lack of comprehensive treatment programs, and inadequate time for addressing these issues in the office. Although a single, clearly evidence based prevention program has not yet been developed for obesity prevention, these facts suggest that multiple approaches including support for and encouragement of breast feeding, increased nutrition education for parents and care providers, and programs that provide for increased physical activity for children and families in day care centers, schools and other community centers could be part of an organized effort to combat this epidemic.
The Nutrition/Obesity workgroup of the Early Childhood Task Force is extremely active. They are busy learning about different prevention programs and collaborating with others who touch children in the 0-5 age range.
To learn more about or participate in this workgroup, contact it's leader, Rene Bartos, MD, MPH, FAAP at rene7@cox.net.