Preventing Childhood Obesity Health in the Balance (2005) / Chapter Skim
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9 Confronting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
9 Confronting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Pages 319-326
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From page 319... ...
9 Confronting the Childhood Obesity Epidemic Obesity in U.S. children and youth is an epidemic characterized by an unexpected and excess number of cases on a steady increase in recent decades.
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From page 320... ...
This environment is characterized by: · Urban aml suburban designs that discourage walking aml other physical activities · Pressures on families to minimize food costs and acquisition and preparation time, resulting in frequent consumption of energy-dense convenience foods that are high in calories and fat · Reduced access and affordability in some communities to fruits, vegetables, and other nutritious foods · Decreased opportunities for physical activity at school and after school, and reduced walking or biking to and from school · Competition for leisure time that was once spent playing outdoors with sedentary screen time—including watching television or playing computer and video games. The result is that obesity from unhealthful eating and inactivity has rapidly become the social norm in many communities across America.
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From page 321... ...
Individual-level changes toward nutritious diets and increases in physical activity levels have short- and long-term potential for improved health and well-being. Likewise, the enhancements and improvements made to the built and social environments in our communities to improve access to healthful foods and opportunities for physical activity may also improve the safety of neighborhoods and street crossings and strengthen community cohesion Preventing childhood obesity should become Ingrained as a collective responsibility requiring individual, family, community, corporate, and governmental commitments.
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From page 322... ...
Moreover, a concern of the committee is that even if many of the recommended actions are implemented, research should contain a better balance between studies that continue to address the underlying causes of the obesity epidemic and studies that test potential solutions—that is, identifying appropriate methodologies for effectively promoting healthful eating and physical activity and reducing sedentary behaviors that will support obesity prevention in children and youth. NEXT STEPS FOR ACTION AND RESEARCH Recognizing the multifactorial nature of the problem, the committee deliberated on how best to prioritize the next steps for the nation in preventing obesity in children and youth.
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From page 323... ...
There is still much to be learned about the causes, correlates, prevention, and treatment of obesity in children and youth. Because the focus of this study is on prevention, the committee concentrated its efforts throughout the report on identifying areas of research that are priorities for progress toward preventing childhood obesity.
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324 TABLE 9-1 immediate Steps PREVENTING CHILDHOOD OBESITY Federal government Industry and media Health-care professionals Community and nonprofit organizations State and local education authorities and schools Parents and families Establish an interdepartmental task force and coordinate federal actions Develop nutrition standards for foods and beverages sold in schools Fund state-based nutrition and physical activity grants with strong evaluation components Develop guidelines regarding advertising and marketing to children and youth by convening a national conference Expand funding for prevention intervention research, experimental behavioral research, and community-based popu ation research; strengthen support for surveillance, monitoring, and evaluation efforts Develop healthier food and beverage product and packaging innovations Expand consumer nutrition information Provide clear and consistent media messages Expand and promote opportt nities for physical activity in the community through changes to ordinances, capital improvement programs, and other planning practices Work with communities to support partnerships and networks that expand the availability of and access to healthful foods Routinely track body mass index in children and youth and offer appropriate counseling and guidance to children and their fami ies Provide opportunities for healthful eating and physical activity in existing and new community programs, particularly for high-risk populations Improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages served and sold in schools and as part of school-related activities Increase opportunities for frequent, more intensive and engaging physical activity during and after school Implement school-based interventions to reduce children's screen time Develop, implement, and evaluate innovative pilot programs for both staffing and teaching about wellness, healthful eating, and physical activity Engage in and promote more healthful dietary intakes and active lifestyles (e.g., increased physical activity, reduced television and other screen time, more healthful dietary behaviors)
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From page 325... ...
· Community-based population-level research—The committee encourages experimental and observational research examining the most important established and novel factors that drive changes in population health, how they are embedded in the socioeconomic and built environments, how they impact obesity prevention, and how they affect society at large with regard to improving nutritional health, increasing physical activity, decreasing sedentary behaviors, and reducing obesity prevalence. The recommendations that constitute this report's action plan to prevent childhood obesity commence what is anticipated to be an energetic and sustained effort.
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