Latest childhood obesity numbers worry parents, doctors

More children are overweight in Illinois than the majority of children in the United States. Lack of physical education in schools, high rates of poverty and scarce access to healthy foods may be at the heart of Illinois’ childhood obesity problem, experts says.

Many parents see overweight children as a personal issue or a lack of self-control. But the issue of obesity “goes way beyond personal choice,” according to Dr. Adam Becker, director of Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children. Parents and communities must recognize poor habits if the state’s obesity rates are going to drop, he says.

Lack of physical education

Even though the Illinois State Board of Education mandates physical education every day for school-age children kindergarten through 12th grade, some schools in Illinois do not enforce the rule. In the Chicago Public School system, for example, most children attend gym class only once per week. In the suburbs, physical education in schools varies widely.

Many schools have applied for a physical education waiver. A waiver legally allows a school or school district to restrict or eliminate the amount of physical education. The rationale for waivers varies from a lack of funding, unsuitable facilities or a decline in academic achievement. Through the efforts of the Illinois Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance waivers to eliminate or reduce physical education by school districts was reduced to a maximum of six years.

Poverty

Socioeconomic factors place certain children at greater risk for obesity as well. According to Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children, childhood obesity rates are highest in poor communities of color. CLOCC reports that in neighborhoods with high black and Hispanic populations, such as Humboldt Park, the rates of obesity are higher than 40 percent. In Norwood Park, a predominantly white neighborhood, the obesity rate is below 10 percent.

Black and Hispanic obesity rates are increasing faster than that of whites. David Shoham, assistant professor of Preventive Medicine and Epidemiology at the Stritch School of Medicine at Loyola University, says that as poverty levels increase, so does the percent of overweight and obese individuals.

Minorities living in poorer communities also have less access to healthy foods and may find themselves in a “food desert.” Food deserts are communities, such as Maywood, where no major grocery store is available to buy healthy foods.

Instead people in these communities are forced to buy canned and processed foods, which are less healthy and contain more calories than fresh fruits and vegetables. In June, the Illinois General Assembly approved $10 million for the Illinois Fresh Food Fund, which would stimulate supermarket development in underserved areas across the state.

Safety

In some neighborhoods children do not play outside due to safety concerns. Some parents are even reluctant to take children to parks in Chicago because of increased crime, violence and traffic.

Janelle Lanter Brown is a freelance writer, an online contributor at examiner.com and an English teacher at Harper College.

The headlines scream ‘Obesity: An American epidemic.’ It’s enough to make a parent want to ban all the “bad” foods kids love and lock up the video games. Yet, experts say, those tactics are not the answer to our kids’ growing waistlines. In fact, experts tell us, banning sweets, fast food and video games completely only makes a child crave them more.

The better approach is teaching by example lessons in moderation and smart choices kids can adopt as simple lifestyle changes that will carry them through a lifetime of healthy living. With the turning of the calendar to a new year, this month is a great time to get your family moving on a healthy journey.

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