Why Weight? It’s Up to YOU.

Why Weight?

If you have read this 12 part series, you are well aware that there are many things to think about in regards to children and their weight.  Activity level, food selection, hunger response and management, and feeding techniques are just some of the many considerations.   Childhood obesity isn’t simple–it is a layered, multi-faceted condition that involves what you eat, how you eat/feed it, how you feel about your body and self, whether you exercise, and a multitude of environmental influences including school, community, and economic status.  Wouldn’t it be easy to point the finger at one contributor?  Rarely in counseling  am I able to name one single issue as the culprit–there is usually a multitude.  Pinpointing the critical contributors can build awareness, and change.  Childhood obesity is a complex issue– treating it is far more difficult than preventing it.  Yet prevention hinges on knowledge and commitment, so building awareness, especially among parents, is critical.

Why Weight?

Excess weight gain in childhood is no party.  The psychosocial impact begins at a young age and may last a lifetime.  The physical impact may perpetuate the problem, challenging children in their efforts to be active.  The medical toll is well known, from the affiliated conditions of heart disease to diabetes, as well as the exhorbitant cost to our nation.  One thing we know for sure, we cannot wait to address this weight problem in children.

Treatment of childhood obesity is challenging.  It generally requires a lifestyle change that involves the entire family.  Success is dependent on motivation and commitment, and that is a large and variable factor among families.  Children hold little power and generally assume a “follower” position, relying on parents to lead the effort.  Parents make the food shopping decisions, the dining out rules,  and the TV allowances–children’s weight status is a by-product of many of these decisions.  As children grow older, they tend to mimic their family habits, adopting behaviors that may or may not support their health.   A positive parent leader is a key component to a child’s weight management treatment. 

Prevention is the key and it begins in the highchair.  Yes, the early decisions count.  Allowing little Sally a Dum-Dum sucker at the bank drive-through, or Baby Sam a soda in his bottle are the decisions that set the foundation for future tastebuds.  Research shows that feeding habits in the first 2 years of life set the precedence for future eating habits.  In other words, if you want your child to eat healthy and be at a healthy weight, you’ve got to pay attention early on.  Further, recent research suggests that infants as young as 6 months of age are showing signs of obesity.  As the age of 4-6 months is the time to transition to “real food”, this research is compelling and urges parents to pay more attention to what and how they feed their infants in the highchair.

We owe it to our own and our nation’ children to become educated about food and nutrition, be involved in teaching and modeling a healthy lifestyle, be more thoughtful about feeding and role-modeling, be committed to activity, and be committed to prevention, rather than await treatment.  As the parent, the gatekeeper, and the leader–it’s up to YOU.