OBESITY%20IN%20CHILDREN

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OBESITY IN CHILDREN

• A National Crisis

By April Locklear, RN Lead Nurse, SRMC
Andrea Fields, RN Director of Occupational Health
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ABSTRACT
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Definition of Obesity   A few extra pounds is
not considered to be obese. A child is
considered to be obese, when his or her weight is
at least 10 greater than what is recommended for
the height and body type.
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Prevalence of Obesity

• One in every 5 children are overweight
• 15.5 of Adolescents (ages 12- 19)
• 15.3 of children (ages 6 11)

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RESEARCH DATA
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Diagnosis
Is determined by a persons body mass index.
Calculating BMI
Weight(lbs) /height (in) X 704.5 BMI
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18.5 to 24.9 25 to 29.9 30 to 34.9 35
to 39.9 40 or more Healthy Over-
Obesity Obesity Severe
Obesity Weight weight
(Class 1) (class 2) (class 3)
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Predisposing Factors
Sedentary Lifestyle
Diet
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What are the health consequences of being
overweight as a child?
Overweight Adult

• Heart Disease
• Stroke
• Type II Diabetes
• Arthritis
• Some Forms of Cancer
• COPD

Overweight Child
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Annual Direct Indirect Costs Of Obesity (1995
Billions of Dollars)
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Overweight Status Compromises Health Even in
Childhood

• 60 children have at least one CVD risk factor
• Dramatic increase of Type II diabetes
• Obesity in childhood affects adult mortality
  50 higher risk of death
• The problem is escalating worldwide

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Barriers
Media Food Industry
Family
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McDonalds Trivia
Everyday 0.5 of the worlds population visits a
McDonalds. The average American eats at
McDonald's 1,811 times in their life. In 1996,
96 of Americans ate at McDonalds at least
once. The colors red and yellow have been shown
to increase hungerthe colors of most McDonalds
restaurants.
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The ubiquity of fast food outlets and soda
vending machines, the huge increase in portions
sizes at restaurantsare all contributing to the
obesity epidemic. Marion Nestle, PhD, MPH
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Interventions
Diet
Physical Fitness
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Education of Parents and Children
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Health Care
Surgery
Medications
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Where do we go from here

• Need more research
• Change school environments for beverages and
  snacks
• Change food preferences for fruits and vegetables
  
• Family-based programs for diet PA
• Community-school partnership for PA
• Environment and policy

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References