SanTan
March 2014
FAMILY FUN Giving kids too many beverages can also cause the daily calorie count to quickly add up, Kaplan says. “Many parents forget that beverages may contain too many calories such as whole milk, chocolate milk, juice, soda and other flavored drinks. If a child drinks a few of these drinks a day SLOW AND STEADY WINS which may contain 150 calories THE RACE: Instead of each, then the calories will accu- drastic changes in diet and exercise habits, mulate and cause the child to Wesley Delbridge, nutrition gain weight. Water and low fat supervisor for Chandler milk are better options for drinks Unified School District, says throughout the day.” gradual changes are much Wesley Delbridge, a registered easier to maintain and are more successful. dietitian and nutrition supervisor for Chandler Unified School Submitted photo District, says that kids are far more stressed out than in previous years. This, he says, can lead to overeating and weight gain. “Kids these days not only have the pressures of school and their friends, but also social media and other stressors. We have 14 year olds who are thinking about where they are going to college,” he says. “Stress can definitely contribute to negative habits when it comes to food; in some cases, kids might feel like the only thing they can control is their eating.” In other cases, Delbridge says, a child who is bullied for being heavy may accept the “overweight” label as permanent, and not do anything to change it. “Sometimes kids who are called names for being overweight will decide ‘I guess I’ll just be the big kid.’” Julie Holbrook, owner of Shift 4 Success in Gilbert, says that giving kids special tasty treats frequently, and
for no particular good reason, is also contributing to an increase in childhood obesity. “A treat, in my book, would be an apple with peanut butter—not a Pop-Tart,” she says. “In a lot of ways, parents are treating their kids like they do their pets, and giving them too many treats throughout the day.” Believing that “everything we feed our kids has to be so good, and taste so good” is also contributing to the problem, Holbrook says. Not every meal has to be perfectly palatable for kids. “I’ve had so many parents tell me ‘I’m so exhausted after making three different meals for dinner so everyone can have something they like.’ I always tell them, make just one meal that is balanced and nutritious. If the kids don’t like it and don’t eat that much—that’s fine. They’ll make up for it at the next meal.” ONE MEAL FOR EVERYTo treat a child’s obesity, BODY: Julie Holbrook, Kaplan says the family needs to owner of Shift 4 Success, says parents need to stop be supportive by also changing cooking individual meals their exercise and eating habits. for fussy eaters and instead “Children usually model their prepare one balanced meal for the whole family. parent’s behavior, so the parents need to lead by example,” she says. Submitted photo The best approach for the family is a lifestyle change, not a diet. “Everyone needs to eat a lower fat and lower carbohydrate diet, cut out the high calorie drinks, and increase their exercise. The weight should slowly come off as the child grows as long as their calorie consumption stays at normal levels and they increase their exercise.”
No matter what dietary and exercise changes parents make, Delbridge says they need to do them slowly and gradually. “Parents will say ‘OK, that’s it—we are throwing out all of our junk food and we are all going to start exercising an hour a day,’” he says, adding that this sudden and severe approach is doomed to failure. “Instead, ask your kids to suggest some healthy snacks. Turn off your phones and go for a walk for 10 minutes and talk about your day. Whatever habits the parents are exhibiting will have the biggest impact on the family.” Holbrook says parents should also not be afraid to gently and kindly explain to their kids why they want to make healthy changes that will benefit the entire family. “You never want to be mean about it, but kids are not stupid—they know they look different, so parents need to stop trying to hide it like it’s the elephant in the room. Parents can say, ‘We’ve made some mistakes along the way, but we’re going to fix them.’” Alison Stanton is a freelance writer who lives in the East Valley. She can be reached at alison@santansun.com
Resources Websites:
• www.cusdnutrition.com • www.shift4success.com • www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm Books:
• “Always the Fat Kid: The Truth About the Enduring Effects of Childhood Obesity,” by Jacob Warren and K. Bryant Smalley • “Overweight: What Kids Say: What’s Really Causing the Childhood Obesity Epidemic,” by Dr. Robert A. Pretlow • “Your Child’s Weight: Helping Without Harming,” by Ellyn Satter M.S., R.D., L.C.S.W., B.C.D
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