1 in 5 preschoolers is obese

[Amby 490]

CHICAGO - A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese.

Researchers were surprised to see differences by race at so early an age.

Overall, more than half a million 4-year-olds are obese, the study suggests. Obesity is more common in Hispanic and black youngsters, too, but the disparity is most startling in American Indians, whose rate is almost double that of whites.

The lead author said that rate is worrisome among children so young, even in a population at higher risk for obesity because of other health problems and economic disadvantages.

"The magnitude of these differences was larger than we expected, and it is surprising to see differences by racial groups present so early in childhood," said Sarah Anderson, an Ohio State University public health researcher. She conducted the research with Temple University's Dr. Robert Whitaker.

‘Minority majority’

Dr. Glenn Flores, a pediatrics and public health professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, said the research is an important contribution to studies documenting racial and ethnic disparities in children's weight.

"The cumulative evidence is alarming because within just a few decades, America will become a 'minority majority' nation," he said. Without interventions, the next generation "will be at very high risk" for heart disease, high blood pressure, cancers, joint diseases and other problems connected with obesity, said Flores, who was not involved in the new research.

The study is an analysis of nationally representative height and weight data on 8,550 preschoolers born in 2001. Children were measured in their homes and were part of a study conducted by the government's National Center on Education Statistics. The results appear in Monday's Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine.

Almost 13 percent of Asian children were obese, along with 16 percent of whites, almost 21 percent of blacks, 22 percent of Hispanics, and 31 percent of American Indians.

Some previous studies of young children did not distinguish between kids who were merely overweight versus obese, or they examined fewer racial groups.

The current study looked only at obesity and a specific age group. Anderson called it the first analysis of national obesity rates in preschool kids in the five ethnic or racial groups.

The researchers did not examine reasons for the disparities, but others offered several theories.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/30072958/

[mawilson 2,133]

CHICAGO - A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese.

Too much curry?

[Amby 490]

CHICAGO - A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese.

Too much curry?

I have no real reply to that

[Peikko 1,575]

I think this plays more into the relative financial status of these ethnic groups. Poverty generally leads to poor nutrition and poor nutrition in the US leads to obesity, whereas in poor countries it leads to starvation. That is incredibly perverse and sad in my opinion.

Edited April 7, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Nagishkaw 510]

CHICAGO - A striking new study says almost 1 in 5 American 4-year-olds is obese, and the rate is alarmingly higher among American Indian children, with nearly a third of them obese.

Too much curry?

[EstebanTrabajos 7]

parents' fault

[Chica Yeyé 41]

parents' fault

WORD

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think it's that simple. Of course, it is in a way, but part of the problem is the 'food' industry selling chemical products as if they were food and they are nearly always cheap or specifically designed to entice children - like those stupid pot noodle things, and all those ridiculous so called breakfast cereals.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't think it's that simple. Of course, it is in a way, but part of the problem is the 'food' industry selling chemical products as if they were food and they are nearly always cheap or specifically designed to entice children - like those stupid pot noodle things, and all those ridiculous so called breakfast cereals.

Agreed there sister. However, who buys that ####### to feed their kids?

[Peikko 1,575]

It's hard not to. I mean, I don't, but when you have those little faces pleading with you, I can see why it's easier to say yes than no. If you know that what they want is not always what they need that's a start, but then you have to know that not everything that is presented as 'food' is food. For example, the breakfast cereal boxes make a lot of claims about the vitamin content of their products and these are prominently displayed. If you don't know any better could you not feel that actually you were trying to do your best for your child by giving them these things that you also know they will eat and seem to be good value for money?

Edited April 7, 2009 by Madame Cleo

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I don't know sister, though I see your point. The way Bren and I eat is quite balanced and healthy, and he is quite @n@l about nutrition. Pizza + Dr. Pepper are our only fast-food type things. IF we had children, their health would come before anything else. I used to try and con my own mother for candies: ti never worked

[Peikko 1,575]

Well, it's down to education really, as usual. How many classes are taught in school on what constitutes a healthy diet in terms that the kids understand, and not simply some puritanical 'eat veggies'? It has to relate to the people that are being taught and relate to the 'whole body' in a holistic way but of course that's too hippy dippy so we can't nanny our kids like that. Drives me nuts really.

[mawilson 2,133]

Well, it's down to education really, as usual. How many classes are taught in school on what constitutes a healthy diet in terms that the kids understand, and not simply some puritanical 'eat veggies'? It has to relate to the people that are being taught and relate to the 'whole body' in a holistic way but of course that's too hippy dippy so we can't nanny our kids like that. Drives me nuts really.

What's wrong with 'eat veggies'? I always liked veggies when I was a kid, I just don't see why kids hate them.

[Peikko 1,575]

My mom was a food puritan when we were kids (I guess she still is in some ways ). In some ways that was great of course, lots of home grown veg (not so much fruit, not a good climate for that) but in other ways, the deprivations made me 'want' some things more. I am sure she told me that eating sweets/biscuits cake etc was not a good thing, but I can't remember relating meaningfully to that information as a kid, I just wanted more chocolate and resorted to some foul methods to obtain it!

Well, it's down to education really, as usual. How many classes are taught in school on what constitutes a healthy diet in terms that the kids understand, and not simply some puritanical 'eat veggies'? It has to relate to the people that are being taught and relate to the 'whole body' in a holistic way but of course that's too hippy dippy so we can't nanny our kids like that. Drives me nuts really.

What's wrong with 'eat veggies'? I always liked veggies when I was a kid, I just don't see why kids hate them.

Nothing wrong with that, except that what mostly passes for veggies in the ave US supermarket is worse than useless and I can quite understand why most kids would turn their noses up at them.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

Well, it's down to education really, as usual. How many classes are taught in school on what constitutes a healthy diet in terms that the kids understand, and not simply some puritanical 'eat veggies'? It has to relate to the people that are being taught and relate to the 'whole body' in a holistic way but of course that's too hippy dippy so we can't nanny our kids like that. Drives me nuts really.

I don't think anyone taught my mom, or my grandmothers how to make a healthy diet sister. Or me, for that matter. It might be a cultural thing as well: where I come from, children eat what they are served, there is no negotiation. And I like that. With all the emphasis in the hyper trite "building self-esteem, independent thought" and whatnot BS, countries are doing children a disservice.