Childhood Obesity Facts

Archive for August, 2011

Acting Locally to Help Globally

Major disasters around the world not only generate heavy news coverage — they also move people to donate money, supplies, and a helping hand to those affected.

Away from the limelight, however, are countless smaller everyday health crises that also need the help of developing nations and their citizens.

It’s easy to feel powerless when you see reports of famine, starvation, disease, violence, and poverty, yet many organizations are already in place to ensure that charitable contributions have the maximum impact.

Helping others lets parents teach kids important lessons about the value of sharing and sacrifice — plus, most kids enjoy discovering that they can make a difference in the world and help those who are less fortunate.

What This Means to You

Talk with your kids about how your family can make small but meaningful contributions to those in need. Discuss the issues that interest you and then start researching which groups can make best use of your help.

For instance:

• If the cholera outbreak in Haiti has spurred your interest in making clean water available there or in other developing countries, many clean-water activist and education groups would welcome your help.
• One extremely effective, inexpensive option is helping to send insecticide-treated bed nets to prevent malaria (which kills more than 1 million worldwide each year, mostly kids) in Asia and Africa.
• UNICEF and Save the Children have worked for years to protect, feed, and educate kids all over the world.
• The Hunger Project’s mission is to end hunger and poverty in Africa, Asia, and Latin America by building self-reliance, empowering women, and working with local governments.
• Habitat for Humanity doesn’t just build housing in the United States — they need help and volunteers for their international efforts, too.
• The International Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders both respond to crises around the globe to help populations deal with emergencies, often in dangerous regions suffering from armed conflicts.

Of course, these are just a few of many worthwhile campaigns and groups. Whatever causes you decide to support, pay a visit to the websites of the Better Business Bureau or the American Institute of Philanthropy to be sure that an organization is legitimate and fiscally responsible.

During the holiday season, many families look for ways to help those in need. It’s a great time to get started — you can even do your online holiday shopping through portals that connect shoppers to major retailers and donate a portion of all sales to various charities. But remember, your family can make a difference all year round.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Fighting Nature Deficit Disorder

With options for indoor recreation multiplying and becoming ever more sophisticated, parents are all too aware of how much time their kids spend parked on the couch watching TV or glued to a computer/cell phone/gaming system.

Mix these digital delights with parental fear of “stranger danger” (which often is unrealistic), and you get kids spending less and less time enjoying the great outdoors, a trend author Richard Louv dubbed “nature deficit disorder” in his influential book “Last Child in the Woods.”

Louv says that in the last 30 years kids have become more plugged-in at the expense of connecting with the natural world. He argues that this could have consequences not only for physical fitness, but also for long-term mental and spiritual well-being, citing “increased feelings of stress, trouble paying attention, [and] feelings of not being rooted in the world.”

While that may be difficult to prove, many parents still would like to see their kids get outside more. But how? Urban families might have limited natural places to explore; suburban families might have to drive to area parks; and almost every family is pressed for free time.

What This Means to You

Besides spending more and more hours on media diversions (often, up to 7 hours a day), kids are also multitasking — leaving the TV on while surfing online and fielding text messages from friends. It’s up to parents to get them unplugged and outside.

Unless kids are naturally outdoorsy, convincing them to go out for some fresh air can be a struggle. So be creative. No park in your area? Even a small suburban backyard can be explored (what’s under those rocks?), made more nature-friendly with some bird feeders and a birdbath, or be the setting for a family camping night.

Have to drive to get to get to anything green? Give geocaching a try. This modern treasure hunt phenomenon uses GPS coordinates to direct seekers to spots urban, suburban, and rural for small stashes of fun stuff placed by other geocachers. Engage computer-loving kids by asking them to visit one of the many online geocaching resources to choose which treasures the family should search for.

Still getting resistance? The National Wildlife Federation (NWF) suggests baby steps — work toward a daily “green hour” of unstructured play and interaction with nature by starting with a 15-minute excursion into the backyard to, for instance, identify the birds you see there.

The NWF and many other organizations offer loads of ideas for outdoor play and exploration on their websites. Make it the mission of your computer-savvy kids to go online and find some activities they’d like to try.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Epigenetics – How Grandma’s Health Affects Your Child’s

Transgenerational epigenetic inheritance — or epigenetics, for short — doesn’t exactly roll off the tongue. Yet this idea that environmental factors (such as diet, lifestyle choices and behaviors, and stress) can change the health not only of the people who are exposed to them, but also the health of their descendants, is something we’ll be hearing more and more about.

Epigenetic experts believe that the environmental conditions and life experiences of parents, grandparents, and even great-grandparents can, in a way, flip “on/off switches” on the genes in their eggs and sperm, or the genes of developing fetuses in pregnant women, thus changing the genetic code of their offspring and descendants. In this way, new genetic traits can appear in a single generation, and be passed on to kids, grandkids, and beyond.

For instance, evidence suggests that smoking and overeating can affect genes, causing those affecting obesity to become “switched on” and those carrying messages for longevity to become “switched off.” That means that in addition to the self-harm that can come from eating too much or smoking, these lifestyle choices may predispose a person’s offspring (and even future descendants) to disease and premature death.

In the past, understanding of diseases focused on the interaction among the genes we inherit (for diabetes, as an example) and our environment (like eating and exercise habits). But researchers have long puzzled about how the risks for, and frequency of, some conditions seem to change as quickly as from one generation to the next. After all, according to traditional genetics, major changes in the structure of the human genome only occurred over many generations or even thousands of years. But now, the concept of epigenetics is shedding new light on how such changes can occur much faster.

What This Means to You

Is epigenetics just a topic of interest to scientists, or should it have an impact on the way we live now? Mounting research seems to be supporting the role of parental lifestyles and their (possibly permanent) effects on the health of their children, grandchildren, and beyond.

While you may not be able to undo the genetic “on/off switch” changes you’ve passed on to the kids you already have, living healthier now could be invaluable to the health of your future offspring — and theirs. Epigenetics doesn’t just apply to passing on potentially negative traits or health risks, but also to the benefits of inheriting healthy factors.

Scientists also are beginning to exploit the concept of epigenetics as a strategy for the development of exciting new approaches to diseases with genetic roots. Drugs are already being produced that act by switching on or off faulty genes in epigenetic fashion. This type of genetic “quick fix” could prove to be a very valuable strategy in the fight to prevent, treat, or cure a number of conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Cyberbullying: New Problems, New Tactics

Bullying is an old problem that remains difficult to bring under control, in part because technology offers new ways for kids to pick on one another. Indeed, cyberbullying can extend the reach and power of some of the worst bullies, subjecting kids to taunts from beyond their own schools and neighborhoods.

Cyberbullying also means the problem can be constant — gone are the days when kids just dreaded an encounter on the bus or during the schoolday. Through cell phone texts, emails, and social media sites, bullies can torment their victims 24 hours a day. Picked-on kids can feel like they’re getting blasted nonstop and that there is no escape.

Because many kids are reluctant to report being bullied, even to their parents, it’s impossible to know just how many are affected. But it’s estimated that one third of teens have been victims of some form of online bullying. Yet they often don’t realize it happens to so many of their peers, adding to their sense of isolation.

As the pressure builds, victims can experience anxiety, depression, and other stress-related disorders. As recent well-publicized cases have shown, some kids and teens ended their lives to escape bullying. Experts say that kids who are bullied — and the bullies themselves — are at an elevated risk for suicidal thoughts, attempts, and completed suicides.

What This Means to You

Parents are often desperate to help when their kids are bullied. It’s hard enough to combat the typical schoolyard thug — so what can be done about the sometimes anonymous tormentors who strike from behind a computer screen?

Warning signs of cyberbullying to watch for can include:

• emotional distress during or after using the Internet
• withdrawal from friends and family members
• avoidance of school or group gatherings
• slipping grades and “acting out” in anger at home
• changes in mood, behavior, sleep, or appetite
• wanting to stop using the computer or cell phone
• appearing nervous or jumpy when getting an instant message or email
• avoiding discussions about computer or cell phone activities

Why don’t kids tell their parents about cyberbullying? Despite the torment they might find online, they still want to be connected to friends and are afraid they’ll lose their online privileges. So it’s important for parents to reassure them that they won’t lose their access, though what transpires online should be carefully monitored. When possible, block the bully from your child’s online groups and profiles, and on cell phones and email accounts.

Encourage your child not to respond, because doing so just fuels the fire and makes the situation worse. But do keep the threatening messages, pictures, and texts, as these can be used as evidence with the bully’s parents, school, employer, or even the police. Also consider involving officials at your child’s school, especially if the bully also goes there.

And if your son or daughter is doing the bullying, take steps to end the negative behavior. Explain that joking and teasing might seem harmless but can hurt feelings and lead to serious consequences at home, school, and in the community. If it continues, put tracking or filtering software on the computer, impose restrictions on computer and cell phone use, and consider having your child talk with a counselor.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Teens & Sexting: What Parents Need to Know

Pose with your friends for your iPhone-loving date, who instantly uploads it via Facebook mobile, and you have a memory to enjoy forever — or a permanently ruined reputation.

Even adults can live to regret something that lands online or is forwarded inappropriately. But “sexting” (sending or receiving of sexually explicit or sexually suggestive images or video via a cell phone) is largely a youth phenomenon.

Whether through sexting or other unwisely used online/interactive communications, adolescents are taking, sending, and receiving nude pictures and sexual content. But the short-term thrills, often done under social pressure or after a few drinks, are outlived by the potentially damaging consequences.

How common is it? Parents are likely to be shocked:

• A 2009 poll found that 1 in 5 teens — guys and girls — sent sexually suggestive pictures via text; and many have received such images, which often originally were sent to someone else. These numbers are even higher when including written sexual content (39% of all teens).
• A 2008 study by the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy estimated that 22% of teenage girls said they had sent or posed for nude or semi-nude photos.
• Another poll found that 44% of high school boys had seen at least one naked picture of a female classmate.

Whether these statistics turn out to be accurate or overblown, inappropriate sharing of personal photos does seem to be common — and for parents, understandably worrisome.

Why do they do it? Many young women cite “pressure from guys” as the reason they send or pose for sexually suggestive pictures or texts, and guys sometimes blame “pressure from friends.” But for some, it’s almost become normal behavior, a way of flirting, or “not a big deal.” And they get some reinforcement for that when lewd celebrity pictures and videos go mainstream and the consequences are greater fame and reality TV shows, not ruined careers or humiliation.

So besides educating themselves about what their kids are transmitting, parents need to get kids — whose decision-making skills, judgment, and ideas about privacy are still being formed — to understand that even if their intentions are playful or harmless, if messages or pictures become public, the results can be anything but.

What This Means to You

One of the prime responsibilities of parents is to teach their kids how to take responsibility for their own safety and their own actions. Some instant technologies with long-lasting consequences make that tougher — typical childhood and teen experimentation that went unrecorded in the past now can be captured forever. Sexting is a good example of that.

It can be hard for teens to grasp the permanent consequences of their ever-changing tech interactions. Just as they might not consider how smoking now can cause long-term health problems down the road, they can be reluctant to curb their “share everything” tendencies now for the sake of their reputations later.

So it’s crucial for parents to talk to their kids about how the seemingly fleeting nature of racy pictures, videos, emails, and text messages doesn’t match the reality of their permanence in cyberspace. One ill-considered pic sent to a crush’s phone easily can be forwarded to the recipient’s friends, posted online, or printed and distributed. Even intense peer pressure to take or send nude pictures will pale in comparison with the public humiliation that follows when the images land on Facebook or the cell phones of hundreds of other kids and even adults.

So how can you get through to your kids? The answer is to have open conversations about personal responsibility, personal boundaries, and how to resist peer pressure. Conversations like this should occur throughout kids’ lives — not just when problems emerge.

Explain to your kids, early and often, that once an image or message is sent, it is no longer in their control and cannot be taken back. It can, and likely will, spread beyond their control.

And don’t overlook the potential for legal consequences. Regional laws haven’t necessarily kept up with technology, with most intended for dealing with child pornographers, not high schoolers with smartphones. In Texas, for instance, some offenses call for 2 to 10 years in prison or fines up to $10,000. So, in theory, a teen could face felony charges for texting explicit photos or even have to register as a sex offender.

More likely, though, is the fallout that follows when a parent, teacher, friend, or loved one receives a forwarded text with compromising content. Your kids should understand that messages or pictures sent via the Internet or cell phones are never truly private or anonymous.

Beyond that, questionable behavior gone viral can haunt a college applicant or prospective employee years later. More and more colleges and employers check online profiles looking for indications of a candidate’s suitability — or giant red flags about bad judgment and immaturity.

In the meantime, parents can make it clear that there will be consequences if their kids are caught sexting, such as confiscation of cell phones and netbooks or close monitoring of their use.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Supporting LGBT Kids

In an era when gay celebrities marry and popular TV shows commonly feature gay characters, it might seem as if Americans are now quite comfortable with the idea of gay rights. But while pop culture might be accepting, many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) youths are finding that the going is still rough.

Sexual orientation, which refers to a person’s pattern of physical and emotional attraction to others, starts to assert itself before and during adolescence, a time of self-discovery, great change, and questioning. Gender identity refers to whether people think of themselves as male or female. Most people’s gender identity matches their anatomy, but transgender people feel different from their physical appearances.

Kids who start feeling that they are or might be lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender typically struggle with whether to tell their parents — or anyone — about these thoughts.

Particularly during adolescence, kids who are viewed as being different by their peers can be the targets of bullying and harassment. Recent well-publicized suicides by gay teens and young adults had in common an element of taunting and bullying.

Experts in children’s emotional development stress the importance of teaching tolerance — and increasingly, that includes greater acceptance of the LGBT community. Many schools now look for ways to curb homophobic teasing, and even have clubs that provide social and emotional support for LGBT students. Acceptance in schools, homes, and the workplace, though, is far from universal — and might not be so for some time to come.

What This Means to You

Self-confident kids with supportive friends and family might have a relatively easy time disclosing their orientation and living openly as LGB or T. But coming out might feel painfully difficult or out of the question for kids who come from conservative families, live in smaller towns, or lack supportive friends.

LGBT youths are reported have one of the highest rates of suicide attempts, as well as other health and mental health problems (including substance abuse), especially if they are rejected by their families because of sexual orientation. Their risk is increased not because they are LGBT, but because they find themselves in a world that can be hostile about a very basic aspect of themselves. Without support, they can feel extremely isolated. A 2008 study indicates that parental acceptance — or even a neutral reaction — could go a long way toward lessening these risks.

If your child comes to you to discuss his or her sexual orientation, it’s important to react with love and understanding — even if that is not your first inclination. Experts say that even a slightly accepting attitude is helpful, as is not trying to force a child to change his or her orientation.

Support needs to go beyond the home. It’s also important to make sure your child isn’t being singled out at school. Despite changing attitudes, the mainstreaming of tolerance in schools is not a certainty. Some parents and religious groups are pushing back against incorporating discussion and acceptance of gay issues in schools. Many schools have LGBT support groups to help kids through the rough patches. If your LGBT student doesn’t have support at school and is struggling, it’s important to find help elsewhere. There are many excellent online resources and support groups for LGBT youths as well as their families.

Finally, if you are having difficulty understanding and accepting your child’s sexuality, consider meeting with a psychologist who specializes in supporting LGBT people. Talking through your reactions and receiving guidance can help you come to terms and identify ways you can best support your child.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Obesity-Related Health Problems in Kids

It’s well known that childhood obesity is a risk factor for chronic diseases in adulthood. But what many parents might not realize until problems arise is that overweight and obese kids and teens often have weight-related problems during childhood.

Kids who are considered obese (with a body mass index, or BMI, at or above the 95th percentile) are at risk for:

• obstructive sleep apnea (blocked breathing during sleep)
• breathing problems (such as asthma and exercise intolerance)
• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure (hypertension)
• bone and joint problems
• liver disease
• elevated cholesterol and triglycerides (which are risk factors for cardiovascular problems)
• menstrual irregularities
• anxiety, depression, low self-esteem
• bullying and discrimination

There’s also thought to be a connection between obesity and early puberty, especially in girls. Overweight kids tend to grow faster and enter puberty earlier, and obesity might play a role in earlier onset of breast development, usually the first sign that a girl is entering puberty.

What This Means to You

The far-reaching health problems associated with obesity have dire implications for kids right now. So it’s vital that parents do all they can to help kids reach and maintain a healthy weight. Being a good role model is a key part of this — let your kids see you eating healthy foods in appropriate serving sizes, enjoying treats in moderation, and exercising regularly.

And you don’t have to go it alone. The health care reform legislation includes $15 billion earmarked for public health programs designed to help prevent health problems and keep Americans healthy, including $16 million that will go toward combating obesity and promoting fitness. Another provision requires “nutrient content disclosure statements” at chain restaurants, which is significant since an estimated 84% of parents take kids for fast food at least once a week. Look for calorie counts and other nutritional breakdowns listed on in-store and drive-through menus soon.

The long-term picture, of course, is still important. Kids who reach a healthy weight not only have less risk for obesity-related problems, but are more likely to avoid obesity later. Results of a recent study show that obese teens are 16 times more likely to become severely obese in adulthood compared with those who are normal weight or overweight.

Consider talking to your doctor or a nutritionist about ways to fight obesity as a family.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

What Electronic Records Mean for Health Care

Do you pay your bills online, send e-cards for birthdays, and opt for news websites over a daily paper? In this increasingly paper-free era, medical records have lagged behind, but that’s changing.

You might already have encountered your family’s electronic medical records (EMRs) — also called electronic health records, or EHRs — at checkups or seen your child’s health records consolidated electronically between your pediatrician’s office and a specialist’s.

If not, expect to soon. Implementing EMR systems is costly, so many doctors and hospitals were previously reluctant to use them. But the recent health care reform legislation mandates standardized billing in which insurers must implement rules for the secure, confidential electronic exchange of health information.

Under the umbrella term “meaningful use” of EMRs, the government has established rules and financial incentives (billions of dollars in federal funds) to spur adoption of electronic records, which are expected to reduce paperwork and administrative burdens, cut costs, reduce medical errors, and improve the quality of care for patients.

Indeed, EMRs will be a critical part of quality of care standards at hospitals, who must publicly report on their care — and patients’ perception of that care — starting with results relating to surgical care, health-care associated infections, and others.

What This Means to You

Having complete health information stored in one place and kept current can enhance doctor-patient communications. Your pediatrician, for instance, can instantly know the details of care provided by the specialist who also sees your child.

EHRs will change health care delivery in a number of ways:

• health care information will be available when needed and not kept in one office
• making a patient’s health care information available to all care providers will reduce duplication of medical testing
• when parents and patients are better informed, they can make better health care decisions
• the safety and privacy of patients’ personal health information will be ensured
• electronically checking for drug-drug interactions and drug allergies will make prescriptions safer
• giving an electronic copy of a child’s hospital discharge instructions will ensure that parents thoroughly understand the post-hospitalization care plan and can review it at their convenience

Experts hope that EMRs will improve health care thanks to functionality that isn’t possible with paper records. And having consolidated, accessible health information on both sides of the exam table can eliminate administrative steps that could distract from care.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

Understanding Health Care Reform

For all the media coverage and political bantering about health care reform legislation, many people don’t know what changes are in the works — or already here. It’s important to find out, though, especially since the laws have benefits for kids that many parents aren’t aware of or don’t understand.

Even with Medicaid expansions and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), millions of U.S. kids, mostly from low-income and working-class families, have no or insufficient health coverage. Many don’t receive immunizations or regular checkups, which could help prevent many illnesses and detect health concerns early, when they’re most treatable.

The health care reform package addresses some of these important gaps and expands coverage to 32 million currently uninsured Americans.

What This Means to You

The health care reform bill (officially known as the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) passed in March is a massive document. So it’s no surprise that many Americans don’t fully grasp what it means for them.

While full insurance expansion is due by 2014, when 95% of eligible Americans will have coverage, these major benefits are already in effect or imminent:

• Kids with pre-existing medical conditions (such as asthma or diabetes) cannot be denied coverage.
• Insurance companies can’t set lifetime caps on insurance coverage, which previously could mean that sick kids lost benefits when they needed them the most.
• Coverage is extended for kids under their parents’ insurance plan until age 26, instead of the current state-by-state rules that usually ended coverage at age 18 or 19. This is an increasingly important benefit for post-high school or college students who don’t work, don’t have employer-provided insurance, or can’t afford to buy coverage.
• Insurance companies can’t drop someone who becomes sick (unless fraud is proved).
• Insurance companies must cover preventive health care, like annual checkups and immunizations, at no additional cost (no co-pays).
• Consumers have new ways to appeal coverage determinations or claims to their insurance company.

Some things to know and do your homework on:

• Many employers are raising workers’ share of health care costs, so your job-sponsored plan might not be your most cost-efficient or comprehensive coverage option. To see what else is available, contact your state’s insurance regulator or check online:
  [Please note: By clicking on these links, you will be leaving this site.]
  • ehealthinsurance
  • HealthCare.gov
• Similarly, keeping an over-18 child on your policy could be more expensive than buying a separate policy because in most states, it’s fairly inexpensive to insure a young person.
• Extended coverage for kids has prompted some big insurance companies to stop selling new child-only policies.
• For more specifics on what changes affect you and your family, and when they begin, talk to your workplace benefits manager or visit HealthCare.gov.
  [Please note: By clicking on this link, you will be leaving this site.]

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html

The Rise of Psychiatric Diagnoses in Younger Kids

Adults tend to look back on childhood as a carefree time of playing with friends, going to school, and being taken care of. Compared with the concerns that accompany adulthood, being a kid is a piece of cake, right?

So it’s shocking to learn that a recent study found that the rate of antipsychotic medications given to kids 2 to 5 years old doubled between 1999 and 2007. Antipsychotic drugs typically are used to treat schizophrenia, psychosis, bipolar disorder, and other severe mental disorders, yet in this study also were given to kids diagnosed with pervasive developmental disorders (such as autism), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and disruptive behavior disorder.

While the number of younger kids affected still is very small, the growing trend alarms mental health experts. The study’s authors, for instance, also report that fewer than half of the children in their study had received any mental health services, such as a mental health assessment or treatment from a psychotherapist or psychiatrist.

What This Means to You

About 1 in 5 children in the United States has an emotional or behavioral condition, according to the National Academy of Sciences (NAS). But these often are problems like anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression, which can respond well to early treatment with gentle, kid-friendly techniques like talk therapy.

Early diagnosis and treatment are key. Parents who worry that their child might be suffering from a mental health condition should first speak with their pediatrician or primary care provider, who can assess the child and then refer parents to a mental health specialist, if needed.

A child should receive a full mental health assessment from a specialist, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist, before being put on any psychiatric medication, especially one as strong as an antipsychotic. In addition to taking a thorough medical history, the specialist will ask about the family situation and school environment, and if there is a family history of psychiatric problems.

If other options, such as talk therapy and less powerful medications, have been unsuccessful in treating a severe mental disorder, only then should mental health professionals turn to stronger pharmaceutical treatments.

Source:http://www.kidshealth.org/parent/positive/index.html