Childhood Obesity:
Causes, Consequences and Solutions
Facilitator: Jana R. Kicklighter, PhD, RD
Associate Professor, Division of Nutrition
Georgia State University
Atlanta, Georgia
mpp / Hi everyone! Welcome to our web chat on childhood obesity! I want to thank our very special guest, Jana Kicklighter, Associate Professor, Division of Nutrition at Georgia State University, for joining us today to educate us on childhood obesity and to answer any questions we may have. Please feel free to tell us what programmatic initiatives, if any, your RAPP has engaged in that can be replicated by your fellow RAPPs to address this important issue. Also feel free to ask questions and to share any comments you may have. Jana provided us with a PowerPoint presentation that can be found on this website's RAPP private page. If you have not already done so, please make sure you download it. Thanks again Jana. Let's begin our chat!
Jana / Thank you for allowing me to be here today. Welcome to the web chat on childhood obesity. I'm glad you were able to join in the discussion today and I look forward to seeing your questions and comments.
Jana / Overweight children have an 80% chance of being overweight adults. So prevention of obesity is very important. The good news is that there are factors we can control to prevent childhood obesity. What do you see as causes of childhood obesity in the families you work with?
mpp / I know we hear about childhood obesity a lot, but it is very important to educate caregivers about this important issue because it is a health issue, right Jana? I think lack of exercise and poor eating habits contribute to the problem.
Abbie_Groepper / Lack of funds to eat healthy or be active
Rolanda / Inability to buy healthy foods can contribute.
Abbie_Groepper / Lack of parental involvement
mpp / It seems as though it does cost more to eat healthy, is that a myth? If not, how can we address that?
RAPP / Quick meals are cheap and require less time!
mpp / They are absolutely cheaper, especially dollar menus at fast food restaurants!
Jana / Lack of physical activity and poor dietary choices are both responsible for energy imbalance which leads to overweight. Some healthier foods are more expensive, but some are not and we can discuss making healthier choices on a budget.
Jana / There are also healthier choices at restaurants but we have to teach families how to make better choices.
Rolanda / Most children love fast food, are there any healthy fast food choices?
mpp / I especially liked that the PowerPoint you shared with us says that restaurant outings should be planned so that we can make healthier choices for ourselves and the children in our care.
Jana / Cara- One thing we can do is teach families to "eat in season" - choose fresh fruits and vegetables gown locally and available through farmers' markets. Community gardening is also a new opportunity for some people.
RAPP / Many of the youth that I work with do not like being physically active. They have a lot of excuses for not wanting to go outside or participate in physical activities.
Jana / Healthier fast food choices include grilled chicken sandwiches and salads versus burgers and French fries. Also, choosing smaller portions in things like burgers
Cara / Absolutely Jana, which provides a variety of benefits to families. The great aspect of this is that families become more involved with their communities as well.
Abbie_Groepper / Our children would like to be active and involved in events, but they lack transportation or funds to do those things
RAPP / Schools are not required to have Physical Education, many of them base it on the budget.
Jana / RAPP - I think we need to emphasize a variety of ways to be physically active - build them into daily routines; walking the dog; doing household chores; also taking stairs versus elevators, etc. Also, emphasizing family, fun activities - going to the pool or skating.
Victor / It seems to me (which means I have no facts to support this) that it is far more difficult to plan what a child eats when people do not sit down to eat together, but rather whenever it's convenient, etc.
Jana / Abbie- Look for community resources which might be available for free or a reduced price - local YMCAs, etc.
mpp / You mention in your PowerPoint that less TV and computer time and more activity - even if is walking, can be very beneficial.
Cara / It seems that if young people start engaging in different activities, it will become more natural for them and eventually be built right into the young person's schedule.
Jaime / RAPP was me. I am still here under my name now
Abbie_Groepper / The Y does let our children in for free, but how do they get there?
Rolanda / Some of our RAPPs collaborate with local YMCAs or Boys and Girls Clubs to encourage activities for children and youth.
Jana / Victor- research has shown that regular meals and family meals both lead to healthier choices and a variety of other benefits. Planning is also extremely important. But again, eating together as a family should be fun and enjoyable!
mpp / RAPPs have collaborated with Parks and Recreation offices, local bowling alleys and YW/YMCA's to have fun physical activities available for families.
Victor / I hate to sound like one of the old folks, which I am, but when I was growing up everyone ate together and the TV was turned off.
Jana / Abbie - Is there any type of public transportation available or could a group of grandparents work together to solve the transportation problem?
mpp / Obviously transportation is an issue, but what about if some sort of fun exercise is incorporated into meetings?
Jaime / I am actually hosting a summer camp for the next 5 weeks. This morning we asked the kids what their favorite activity was and the top 2 out of 14 kids said video games and playing on the computer.
Jana / Victor - turning off the TV and not answering the telephone during family meals are important.
Cara / I'm with you Victor - I experienced the same thing with my family and it was an important way of life in our household.
mpp / Oh no Jaime!
Abbie_Groepper / There is public transportation, but most of our guardians get passes only to get to work, groceries, etc. They are forming a grandparent support group in the area so that could be an option. Thanks.
Rolanda / Jaime, although those are their fun activities, you have the opportunity to introduce them to physical activities so they can learn how much fun those activities are.
Jana / Jamie - I'm not surprised but decreasing screen time is an important recommendation for increase physical activity and decreasing obesity. The recommendation is 2 or fewer hours per day.
mpp / It is also important, as your power point stresses, that we do the right thing - exercise and eat right, as kids model our behavior!
Jaime / However, I am also a basketball coach so this morning we did basketball workouts with them for 1 hour. Then we played dodge ball which they love. I took a break to come chat!!!
Isabelle / Going to bed on time can also reduce snacking time.
Jana / One resource that might be helpful to you is We Can! Has anyone used this resource from the National Institutes of Health?
Rolanda / Jana, what is We Can and how can we get it?
mpp / Another good point was that, when kids are watching TV, they snack a lot on sugary foods and many commercials encourage bad snacking.
Jana / Being a good role model is extremely important. That is an important message we need to share with the grandparents.
Abbie_Groepper / I liked the idea of eating in designated areas only.
Jaime / Are you all familiar with the pilot program that GU did with teaching Grandparents caregivers about healthy food choices in Dallas, TX?
Maria_M / I read that involving children in the kitchen is helpful. Like telling them the ingredients used.
mpp / Abbie, me too. Eating in a designated areas forces us to come together, is that right Jana?
Jana / We Can! stands for Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition. You can Google and it will come up. It is an intervention geared toward caregivers and their children. I've found it to be an excellent resource.
Victor / TV and Video Games are great "baby sitters" I can see grandparents especially who are all worn out being glad to have the kid just sit there and not bother them for awhile.
Rolanda / Eating in a designated area also limits sneaking snacks that nobody else knows about!
Abbie_Groepper / Jamie: I am not familiar with the pilot program.
mpp / That's a good point, though, what about grandparents/caregivers who are too tired or not able to be as physically active?
Jana / Good points about the bad influence of media which can lead to snacking of high fat, high sugar foods and also decreased activity while watching TV.
Rolanda / Maria, In Jana's PowerPoint she mentions getting everyone involved in planning, shopping and preparing meals. That is a great idea!
Jana / Maria- An excellent idea is involving kids in the kitchen and also in gardening, if possible. Research shows that kids are more likely to eat what they grow and help prepare.
Cara / Rolanda that's such a great point, which helps young people learn about healthy eating!
Maria_M / I find that if my daughter knows that I’m cooking with spinach, it doesn’t have a negative connotation to it.
CCEDC / Grandparents don't necessarily have to be physically active.... Kids love obstacle courses and timed items that a grandparent/caregiver could be involved in but not physically, if limited.
Jana / I am not familiar with the program in Dallas. Is anyone else?
CCEDC / They can be the timers, organizers...
mpp / Good point CCEDC! So just encouraging caregivers to be active with the children can be a great benefit!
Jana / CCEDC - In our intervention for grandparents we emphasized chair exercises and weights. We made sock weights out of 1 pound bags of rice covered by socks and secured with rubber bands. We gave a set to each grandparent and worked out to their favorite music. They loved it!
mpp / Jana, I love that idea! No transportation needed for that one!
CCEDC / Just to laugh and smile and say, “good job” is usually enough to make many children happy and feel that they have family involvement. That is a great idea and kids can simulate that with their toys etc... and do the same thing at the same time...
Jaime / I can't remember all the details about the pilot, but pediatricians did the training. Generations United had some involvement as well with the pilot program.
Rolanda / That sounds like fun Jana!
Jana / Another fun thing we did with our intervention was a session on recipe “redos,” where everyone took their favorite dish and we modified ingredients and/or cooking techniques to make it healthier.
Victor / Just a thought to follow up on the points made above. What if the child planned the "menu?" With help, of course. I can see this as an effective educational experience ending up with a product the child would feel involved in. It could be an ongoing thing, maybe one or two meals a week. It's a lot more work than just doing it yourself, but it could be fun.
mpp / Some of our RAPPs bring in people to show caregivers how to cook healthy, inexpensive meals while others help arrange walking sessions with caregivers when the meetings are not in session.
Jana / Victor - I think that is an excellent idea and teaches the child lifelong skills that will come in handy.
Jana / Another fun thing we did was take grandparents on a grocery shopping tour where we discussed healthier choices in each section of the grocery store and how to read food labels.
Japaricio / Victor - it worked for our program. The youth loved it and it made for a great connection with the grandparents.
mpp / Jana, I was surprised to see that children with asthma are more likely to suffer weight gain. Why is that?
Cara / That sounds like a great idea Jana, as we're all talking about this I'm thinking that when families come together around eating healthier - there could be some great conversations about culture....Just last week I learned about a great (very healthy and inexpensive) way to prepare lentil beans....this is an old family way of preparing this meal.
Jana / MPP - I think it is the opposite - those who are overweight are more likely to suffer from asthma. I'm not sure exactly way.
mpp / Jana, share more of what was done with the caregivers so that we can replicate those ideas!
Jana / Cara- you're right; being culturally sensitive and appropriate is very important.
mpp / What is the best way to educate caregivers on this issue?
Japaricio / Jana, I always thought heredity played somewhat of a major role in weight problems?
Jana / MPP - The intervention I developed was based on the We Can! curriculum, mentioned earlier. We had 10, 15 minute sessions as part of their support group meetings, devoted to nutrition and physical activity. Topics included being a good role model, healthier food choices (using Go, Slow and Whoa food guide), reading food labels, revising recipes to make them healthier, family physical activities, energy balance, and community resources for nutrition and physical activity.
Rolanda / Jana, is the We Can curriculum available? If so, where can we get it?
Jana / Japaricio - For most people hereditary plays a small role in weight problems, which is good news. We can change our heredity but we can change our environment.
Jana / Rolanda - I can send out the website after the chat ends if that would be helpful.
Japaricio / Yes that would.
Rolanda / Great Jana, and we will share it with RAPPs as soon as we get it!
Jana / Has anyone tried using a family contract to help families commit to a change?
Abbie_Groepper / How often do your support groups meet?
mpp / Jana, 10-15 minute sessions during the support group is not bad at all and something our RAPPs can do to help families be healthier and stronger! We will definitely share the resource!