The Three Variables That Affect Childhood Obesity

Two years ago I posted a checklist of seven risk factors for childhood obesity. This new study adds two more.

It's no surprise that an excessive amount of TV watching was a factor. And, in fact, fewer family meals (which generally also means less nutritious meals) and neighborhoods parents perceived weren't safe for outdoor play -- meaning no exercise time -- are also fairly obvious contributors to childhood obesity.

Other warning signs of childhood obesity include:

• Early size
• Early body fat
• High birth weight
• Having obese parents
• Quick growth from ages 1-2
• Getting less than 10.5 hours of sleep at night

You can fight obesity all you want in our schools, but controlling the epidemic depends on parental guidance or, more importantly, the lack of it.

If you want to keep your children fit:

• Limit their TV time and get it out of their bedroom immediately.
• Get your children off the couch and onto the playground or, at the very least, to move around vigorously while they are watching TV!
• Replace those sugary juices and soft drinks with clean water.

I believe this topic is so important that I wrote a book on it. In March I will be coming out with my next book, Generation XL, which is a comprehensive review of childhood obesity.

On Vital Votes, reader Kelli from Jasper, Georgia adds:

"Although much has highlighted the soda machines at our schools -- what about the  everyday trip to the snack area to buy ice cream, cookies, or chips? At our county schools they do not want the parents to send a snack. But, of course, if you don't send extra money, the child doesn't get the snack like the rest do.

"This is kind of like peer pressure towards unhealthy snacks by the school. I think the schools need to work on healthy lunch and move all the vending machines and ice cream freezers right out the back door!

"Obesity is not the only problem with sitting all day at school and then all night at home watching TV or playing video games -- why do we wonder at the number of depressed /anxious children? Exercise is one of the best treatments  and preventions for depression and anxiety -- even in shorter increments.

"Finally, when a parent makes a family meal an important time -- most children prefer it. It's great for communication and teaching proper table manners. 

Once our oldest son in college called when he knew we would be eating -- he just wanted to know what we were talking about. He missed eating with us. There are a few years when our children think we know everything -- those are the years we must teach with. After that, it is the memories they think on and we hope lead them."

Other responses to this article can be viewed at Vital Votes, and you can add your own thoughts or vote on comments by first registering at Vital Votes.