Posted Oct 1, 2010
Weight issues can begin to develop as early as 6 months old, nutrition experts say.
“I think, literally, you can start when you can be introduced to food,” said Dr. Michelle Haendiges, a gynecologist who has also worked in the nutrition field.
When parents feed their children processed foods, sugary foods or any type of unhealthy meals and snacks, she said, the children can begin to develop dependencies or addictions.
Along with keeping children — and parents — informed about the benefits of proper diet and exercise, there are some early steps to take and signs to watch for.
No Energy, No Exercise
One of the earliest warnings that a child is at risk for weight gain is lethargy, Haendiges said.
Children with unhealthy diets tend to have less energy because they skipped a meal or they had a crash from eating too much processed sugar, she said.
The lack of energy can not only lead to a lack of activity, which in turn furthers weight gain, but it can also hamper focus in school, which can hurt grades, she said.
Mike Jones, a physical therapist for St. Joseph Hospital, said one of the biggest obstacles with getting children and teens to exercise is motivation.
“Often, unless a child finds success and receives consistent positive reinforcement from participating in physical activity, his or her motivation for participating in physical exercise can wane,” he said.
A sedentary lifestyle is cyclical with dietary and weight gain issues, such as imbalanced posture and mobility problems, Jones said.
“Left unaddressed,” he said, “these factors can lead to painful conditions and a loss of function, which can contribute to the development of a vicious cycle, in which the motivation to participate in physical activity is further impaired due to the negative association with the experience of pain.”
Pound Soda, Pack Pounds
Beverages are one of the worst culprits for weight gain in children, said Jennifer Jones, a dietitian for St. Joseph Hospital.
Sodas, juices and energy drinks are usually loaded with sugar and calories that easily go unnoticed, she said.
Too many unhealthy drinks, like most weight-related issues, she said, tends to be more prevalent in older children and teenagers because they usually have more freedom of choice when it comes to their diets.
One of the most missed problems with beverages is serving sizes, she said. Children in one sitting will drink an entire bottle, which often consists of 2.5 servings. That can add up to a couple hundred calories for a single drink, Jones said.
“Ultimately, we need to take responsibility and teach kids healthy choices,” she said. “There’s nothing wrong with having soda after lunch. It’s about moderation.”
Market Watch
Just because a food company markets a product as “whole wheat,” that doesn’t make it any healthier. It has to have fiber, Haendiges said.
It is one of many misconceptions that advertisements and marketing can cause that lead people to think they are eating healthy when they aren’t, she said.
Kids, and often their parents, who see advertisements for foods that companies target directly toward them tear into the products not knowing that it can lead to weight issues, she said.
Jennifer Jones said energy drinks, such as Red Bull and Monster Energy, have mastered targeting their products toward teens when they would only benefit athletes needing an energy kick for performance reasons.
“They’ve done great to market those to kids and to young adults,” she said. “It comes to choices and educating them.”
Haendiges said parents, outside of turning off the TV, need to educate their kids about proper nutrition to keep their children from over-consuming unhealthy foods that commercials are pushing them to eat. In many cases, the television’s influence, plus social pressures from peers, convinces them they need to eat something that is bad for them, she said.
“It’s almost as if you’re considered a geek or a nerd if you eat well,” she said. “… The cool kids eat Lunchables.”
Snacks for Self-Esteem
Self-esteem issues are common among overweight children and teens, but self-esteem issues can also preempt weight gain.
When children feel bad about themselves, Haendiges said, some turn to food as a comfort source.
“That’s when the start getting into eating disorders, nocturnal eating, food hoarding, eating by yourself on the slide,” she said.
To avoid having children resort to food for reassurance, Haendiges said, parents should avoid using it as a reward or a punishment.
–Daniel Human is the Kokomo Tribune business reporter. He can be reached at 765-454-8570 or at daniel.human@kokomotribune.com.
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