Editorial: A measured sign of hope

Good news on obesity front

Finally, there is some modestly good news on childhood obesity.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, after rising steadily every year since 1980, the rate of obesity among children ages 2 to 19 seems to have peaked.

The percentage of those overweight or obese remained steady at 32 percent in 2003-2004 and 2005-2006. If that represents a plateau, that's good. If it represents a turnaround, for which it's still too soon to tell, that's even better.

The study is considered representative because a sample of 8,165 children were weighed and measured.

About 15 percent of the children were obese, as opposed to simply overweight, and as a sign of how far we have to go, that figure was 5 percent in 1980. And these children face serious health problems — heart disease, diabetes, asthma — as adults.

Some health officials say that instead of progress combating obesity, we may have simply reached a natural level at which every child who is susceptible to obesity is obese.

And the fact is that obesity levels for both men and women have held steady after two decades of increases. But attributing that to a natural level seems something of a cop-out.

Surely, the national publicity portraying obesity as a serious public health problem has had some effect. So has the campaign to get fruits and vegetables back in the school lunchroom and fatty foods out, and physical education back in the curriculum.

The latest CDC obesity rates indicate the country should try even harder and keep on weighing and measuring.


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Comments » 8

cassandra writes:

Use of high fructose corn syrup has been implicated as a contributory factor is childhood obesity and diabetes upsurge. Keeping kids away from food products using this ingredient is advisable, especially in soft drinks. Check the label.

mikeb6804#235809 writes:

Don't forget the physical education aspect. Moving the kids from TV sets and video games to the backyard and ballfields, etc. will also help.

lthrnek writes:

To everyone who is overweight, obese or just plain FAT. . . whatever you want to call it, just buy a calorie book and count up how many you're shoveling down that hole under your nose each day. There's nothing difficult about the problem except for the lack of self discipline in our country today.

Blaming it on corn syrup in products is a ridiculous cop-out!

del writes:

My wife has had students, Kindergarteners; tell her that they do not play outside because there is no place to 'plug into'.

mikeb6804#235809 writes:

del--sorry, your comment is pure bs.

nannyfo1#729082 writes:

This is a terrible two-fold problem. Children are obese at alarming rates. Weight control is very difficult as an adult for folks that were overweight as children.

Cassandra is absolutely correct. It's not just how much you eat, but what you eat. A 12 oz. can of Pepsi has 39 grams of sugar. That is a terrible amount of sugar at any age.

The second problem is that children are being allowed to petrify in front of the TV. Not only are they getting fat doing so, they are not experiencing the joy of the outdoors.

If my son ever said he didn't want to play outside because he doesn't have a place to "plug in" he and I would be taking an extended camping trip somewhere that has no electrity or running water. The fact that parents accept that from their children is disgusting.

cassandra writes:

Gentlemen, I don't make up these things. I read. I get real information from alternative media. People who do neither and know not much will always feel free to spout off I guess. I just get annoyed when I get dinged for allowing my utter contempt for your remarks to show.

I repeat high fructose corn syrup has been implicated as contributory in childhood obesity and the upsurge in diabetes and is often consumed by kids in soft drinks. This is the form of sugar used in sodas because it's cheaper and does the sugar rush thing just as good.

Those of you advocating for kids getting their exercise also are right on. And some of the problems with that involve parents' belief if their offspring aren't supervised closely outside, they will go awry or someone will do something bad to them. And a lot of places are NOT safe for kids, for bicycles, skateboards and pedestrians.

I'm reminded of the Cat Stevens song "Where Will the Children Play?" Nanny's camping trip sounds like it would be a great experience for over-sheltered children. As long as the parent/supervisor wasn't a hard nosed crazy martinet, you know, someone who thinks the problem is a the lack of self-discipline in this country today.

mikeb6804#235809 writes:

Cassie---contrary to your belief (?) I have no quarrel with your statements on nutrition or lack thereof. I also agree with nanny---completely!


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