Childhood Obesity

Obesity has become a national epidemic in the United States.  In fact, in 2009, the United States government actually declared it to be so.  Unfortunately, our children have not escaped this contagion; and it’s up to us, the adults in their lives, to help them with prevention.

How do you know if your child IS obese?  Your pediatrician can advise you on this; however, the “rule of thumb”, so to speak, is if a child’s weight is at least 10% higher than the norm for his or her height and body type.  Obesity numbers in children in the U.S. (as with adults) is on the rise.  In 30 years, the percentage of obese children between the ages of 6 and 11 has risen from 6.5% to 19.6% in 2008.  In adolescence (12-19) this figure has jumped from 5 to 18 percent.  Sadly, childhood obesity many times begins in children between the ages of 5 and 6, then again in the teen years.  The outlook is not good for children who are already obese at ages 10 to 13; it is 80% likely they will become obese adults!

More and more, obese children are falling prey to the same medical issues that once were reserved for adulthood, such as heart disease, strokes, sleep apnea, Type-2 Diabetes, and bone/joint problems.

The “core” causes of childhood obesity are very familiar to us all:

• Overeating (including binging)
• Lack of exercise
• Poor eating habits

Of course, there are other causes, such as family history, medical illness and medications, and stress, as well as emotional and psychological issues.  But the top three listed above are the ones most easily influenced.

Good habits need to start at home with parents as the role models.  Having a healthy eating environment is a big key.  You, as well as your children, should be eating nutritiously.  If “bad” foods aren’t kept around the house, it’s easier to stay away from eating them!  Reduce portion sizes and only allow sweet, high caloric snacks on special occasions.

To make the transition easier, start with baby steps, such as cutting back on fast food and eating at home or having fruit as a snack rather than chips or cookies.  By encouraging a healthy lifestyle to your children and walking the walk, as well, you’re having a more positive impact on your child than you would by constantly nagging about the numbers on a scale.

Along with improved eating habits, you need to incorporate more activity and exercise.  Be sure to get out and play with your children, take walks, and insist they get fresh air as much as possible.  Today’s kids are extremely sedentary, spending way too many hours zombie-like in front of a screen, whether it’s a TV or computer.  In the U.S., 32% of children between the ages of two and seven have a TV in their room.  That percentage goes up to 65% from ages 8 to 18.  Don’t use TVs and computers as babysitters; limit the amount of time your child spends in front of them.

Responsibility for creating good habits falls on parents.  These habits are developed, normally, by the time a child is 12 years old.  Once an obese child moves into his or her teen years, they are then at high risk for depression brought on by low self-esteem and peer pressure.  The time to take on the challenge of raising a child with healthy habits that prevent childhood obesity is right from the beginning.  If unhealthy habits have already developed, it’s not too late to make changes now.  The health of your child is at stake…and possibly your own!

Winter Sledding Safety

Back in “the day”…when the parents of today were kids… indoor entertainment was quite a bit different than that of today’s youngsters.  Music came from tapes or CDs and not iPod or MP3 downloads.  Electronic games were rather basic Nintendo-type offerings with simple Mario Brothers and PacMan, not Xbox 360 or Wii varieties.  Books read had to be held and pages turned manually, not read online or with a Kindle.

However, this time of year, when the snow flurries create huge mounds and cover surrounding hillsides with several inches of enticing ‘white stuff’, our thoughts (and those of our children) turn to an outdoor recreational activity that still is extremely inviting to kids of all ages and generations….sledding!

Although an extraordinarily fun event to participate in, sledding can also be a safety hazard waiting to happen if certain precautions are not addressed and adhered to.  Each year anywhere from 30,000 to 50,000+ children end up in emergency rooms with injuries incurred through sledding accidents.  Of these injuries, approximately 32% of them are spine and head related.

In order to help in the prevention of sledding accidents, let’s first start with things to look out for when choosing a sled to propel down those snowy hills.  A sled’s momentum can reach of up 50 mph.  Of utmost importance is having a sled that is sturdy and steerable! This can be a problem with homemade sleds and is a good incentive for using a manufactured version.  Having a padded seat is helpful in avoiding certain injuries; and checking your sled(s) for jagged, sharp or broken parts should also be routine.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has created a list of safety steps meant to build awareness and guide parents in preventing sledding injuries to their children.  Those steps are:

• Supervision – be present when your youngsters are sledding

• Check the hill(s) for safety; they need to be free of obstacles

• Helmets should be worn (for those under age 12)

• Face forward and don’t go down head first

• Layer clothing to stay warm and protect against injuries

• Don’t use sleds or saucers that can be punctured by objects on the ground

• If sledding after dark, be sure the hill is lighted

• If there are metal runners on the sled, make sure they are rust free

• Stay within the weight limit of the sled

• When taking off down the hill, be sure other kids in front (down the hill) are out of the way; this also means get out of the way yourself ASAP when you reach the bottom of the hill

Following these safety tips can certainly minimize the chances that a rollicking day spent on snowy slopes will end in the emergency room.  Be sure to give your child every opportunity for enjoying an age old wintry pastime by increasing your awareness of how you can make sledding safer for him or her.

Congential Heart Defect Awareness Day

February 14 is Valentine’s Day, a day to focus on your “heart throb”, the one who makes your blood and heart race, filling you with love to last (you hope) a lifetime.  February 14 is also Congenital Heart Defect Awareness Day, a day to focus on hearts that, while they may be full of love, are not coursing with regular blood flow and are not throbbing in a healthy, normal way.

As most of us should be aware by now, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States; and February is a month set aside to raise our awareness about heart disease and the actions we can take in order to prevent it.

Congenital Heart Defects (CHD) are forms of heart disease that cause more infant deaths in the first year of life than any other illness or disease.  Congenital Heart Defects affect approximately 1.8 million families in the United States; 40,000 of those affected each year are babies.

Congenital means that the defect develops before the child is born.  Although these defects can often be discovered prior to birth, while the baby is still a fetus, it can sometimes take a year or more for parents and doctors to develop awareness of the problem.  These defects are in the structure of the heart.  There are more than 35 types of defects.  The main categories are:  (1) holes in the heart; (2) obstructed blood flow; (3) abnormal blood vessels; (4) heart valve abnormalities; and a combination thereof.

There are no known, definitive causes for heart defects.  Some that are considered possibilities are viral infections and genetic transfer (i.e. women who are diabetic are more likely than others to have a baby with CHD).  Another possibility could be related to certain drugs or medications.

It’s obviously important for parents to be aware (thus CHD AWARENESS Day) of the symptoms of this subset of heart disease.  If you notice any of these symptoms, or a combination thereof, you should most definitely consult with your pediatrician.  The symptoms can include the following:

• Tiring quickly

• Difficulty breathing

• Puffiness or swelling

• Sweating easily

• Fewer wet diapers than normal

• Abnormal weight gain

• Bluish skin, nails, and lips that become worse with crying or when eating

• Fainting or near fainting, especially related to physical activity

The more serious the symptom, of course, the more likely parents will be to recognize them…swelling or puffiness in the legs, abdomen or around the eyes, shortness of breath during feedings (which can affect weight gain), and discoloration of the skin, nails and lips.  Some, however, can take longer to recognize (at times up to 3 years old or longer).  These symptoms could include fluid in the heart or lungs and swelling of extremities.

Tests and treatments for congenital heart defects can be scary just because there is fear and uncertainty which comes with the unknown.  Treatment can run the gamut from good, old-fashioned time to open-heart surgery.  This is where a good case manager can be a priceless addition to your support arsenal.   They can help reduce the stress from which parents can suffer by aiding in their learning process and by being a great resource of information, while advocating for you and your infant.

If you suspect your child may be suffering from the symptom(s) of a Congenital Heart Defect, don’t be afraid to ask questions.  Asking questions is a good thing.  Ask questions….BE AWARE!