The physical side effects of childhood obesity are well known. But now, beyond diabetes, heart failure, depression and cancer – researchers are finding that the cost of being obese goes beyond health issues.

University of Michigan epidemiologist, Philippa Clarke, set out to discover what happens to people who’ve been overweight since adolescence. So, using national data that tracked 5,000 high school graduates for 20 years, she set out to find out the social and economic consequences of being overweight since high school.

“We found that those people who were persistently overweight were more likely to not have gone on to have any further education beyond their high school [diploma]; to be receiving welfare or unemployment compensation at age 40 and to have no current partner,” said Clarke in an interview with NPR.

The study also shows that the chronically overweight group studied was two times more likely to be unemployed, on welfare and single.
With even more negative implications, one can only hope that our nation’s efforts to end this epidemic pays off soon.

Find out more about the social and economic impact of childhood obesity on the NPR Blog.

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With childhood obesity on the rise, we are hearing a lot about what medical experts, the government and parents have to say about the issue, but what about the kids? OVERWEIGHT What Kids Say, a book by Dr. Robert A. Pretlow, MD, Department of Pediatrics, eHealth International aims to fill this gap by letting children speak (without editing or tidying up their words) about their struggles and their successes.

Sourced from over 134,000 messages posted on weigh2rock, a website for overweight kids, the book shows the children’s difficulties, shame and secrecy and frustrations with parents and health professionals,” and the examines causes of the childhood obesity epidemic and what could be done to prevent and reduce it from a treatment, prevention and policy standpoint.

The book not only highlights struggle, but provides solutions and success stories.
I think it is about time we hear from the children struggling with this battle, and hope that this book helps parents, experts and children alike understand the root of the problem and the emotional, along with the physical struggles faced by the overweight and obese children of America.

To learn more about the book, visit www.weigh2rock.com.

Tagged as: OVERWEIGHT What Kids Say, weigh2rock

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We take the side of organizations and people working to help end childhood obesity. We asked Sarah Strunk, Director of Active Living by Design, five questions about creating healthy behavior change and her ideas for ending this epidemic in a generation. Here is what she said:

1) Tell us about the work of Active Living By Design. What do you view as your most significant accomplishments to date?

Our mission is simple: to create community-led change by working with local and national partners to build a culture of active living and healthy eating. We started as a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in early 2002, and our focus was on supporting 25 community partnerships across the United States in their efforts to increase routine physical activity. To date, we’ve worked with more than 150 community partnerships throughout the nation in collaboration with a number of local and national funders.

I think one of our most significant accomplishments is our contribution to the healthy communities movement. We’ve helped launch a cadre of exceptional local leaders, and have given them national exposure by demonstrating that changes in policies, systems and environments can improve people’s health. In the last few years, there’s been a slow but steady shift. People have always recognized that individual responsibility is important. However, we now understand that unless our communities support healthy behaviors, it can be difficult for individuals to make healthy choices. Just imagine trying to eat five servings of fruits and vegetables a day if your only source of food is a small convenience store that only sells chips and soda. Or trying to be active if your neighborhood has gangs, no sidewalks, busy traffic and no place to play.

2) There are numerous campaigns today to encourage children to make healthy life choices. But childhood obesity rates continue to climb. What do you think could make these campaigns effective?

I believe that campaigns need to be about more than just education or raising awareness. For instance, if a community, organization, family or individual wants to have an effective campaign, then awareness of healthy choices must be aligned with shifts in cultural norms, supportive programs and, most importantly, changes in policies and the built environment that make the healthy choice the easy choice. And for us, easy means accessible, affordable, appealing and fun.

3) Will educating Americans about being physically active be enough to spur a revolution of health conscious communities? What do you think can motivate people to be healthy?

No. We have provided health education about what to eat and the importance of exercise for over 30 years, yet rates of obesity and other chronic diseases continue to increase. I think motivation will occur when opportunities for healthy eating and physical activity are embedded in our daily routines – for example, when grocery stores, farmers markets, community gardens, sidewalks, parks, schools and community centers are in close proximity to where people live, work and play.

Our society’s current definition of progress is more about convenience – like saving time and money, providing food all the time and offering entertainment on every device – than health and well being. Behavior will change when our social norms begin to change. That starts with people recognizing that they can make a difference in small but important ways: cooking and eating at home as a family, taking a walk or bike ride after dinner instead of watching TV, advocating for healthier options and daily recess or PE in schools, and being aware of the obstacles in communities that may make it difficult to eat healthily or be active.

4) What can the average person do to be healthy if they don’t have opportunities to be physically active?

It’s hard to generalize about an average person or why they don’t have opportunities for physical activity. That said, we recognize there are many barriers to physical activity: concerns about crime and safety, busy schedules and time constraints, very hot or very cold weather, cost and lack of facilities such as parks, sidewalks, bike lanes and recreation centers… these are just a few. It takes individual initiative, peer support and healthy communities to make physical activity part of one’s daily routine. People can explore opportunities that might be available through community centers, YMCAs, worksites, school facilities and church programs. If none of these things exist, people can look for opportunities to be active during their daily routines. For instance, park a little farther from the store. Take the stairs rather than an elevator. Walk a dog. Finally, find like-minded people and work with elected officials to advocate for changes that would make the community more conducive to physical activity.

5) If you could create one solution to change the current trend of childhood obesity, what would it be and why?

I’d like to see health be a primary consideration when we’re making decisions that affect children and their families. A few examples include being more mindful of where we locate schools and what children eat and do once they get there; offering economic incentives that promote the creation of community gardens, parks and open space; and addressing what and how companies are allowed to market to kids. Once our societal priorities include health, our families, communities and culture will become more vibrant. Health and quality of life can’t help but improve.

To learn more about the work of Active Living By Design, visit www.activelivingbydesign.org.

Tagged as: 5 Questions, Active Living by Design, Childhood obesity, Five Questions, Sarah Strunk

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Community based programs to end childhood obesity are growing more and more popular now that Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move Campaign has been in the spotlight, but according to a study presented this week at the International Congress on Obesity, some are working better than others.

The study, done by researchers at the World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Obesity Prevention at Deakin University in Australia, focused on healthy diet, physical activity and included strategies to continue the community programs after the study ended.
It turns out that the most successful interventions were with children younger than five. In this group, the prevalence of overweight or obese children dropped about 3 percent lower than the control group.

Primary school-aged groups didn’t see any reductions in overweight or obesity levels, but did show a reduction in weight gain and results for the interventions in the teen group (done in Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand) had varying results. Australian teens (who were mostly of European ancestry) lost weight, but those in other countries who were from the Pacific Islands or were of Indian heritage showed mixed outcomes.

This difference due to ethnicity brings up an interesting point. Researchers say typical techniques have not been enough for many ethnic groups.

Hopefully, as more and more programs are implemented everywhere, strategies to prevent childhood obesity can be refined and fine-tuned for people of all colors, races and creed (who may need these programs the most).

Tagged as: Australia, Childhood obesity, Deakin University, Let's Move, Michelle Obama, WHO, World Health Organization Collaborating Center for Obesity Prevention

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