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Nicole's Soar With A Child Always (S.W.A.C.A.)
Leadership I Education I Proper Etiquette I Mentors I Health & Nutrition
H E A L T H & N U T R I T I O N
Strong Bodies, Strong Kids: Exercise, Nutrition and Young Children
Childhood obesity is a growing problem in America, particularly for young children. One out of every fourteen children in the United States is obese, and one out of three is overweight. The greatest cause of obesity is eating more and exercising less.
More families than ever have less active, sedentary lifestyles, and more children than ever are drawn into this lifestyle as well. Why should we be concerned about obese and overweight children? Overweight children are more likely than other children to suffer from preventable health problems in their lives including: Type II Diabetes, heart related complications, and asthma.
Although the potential consequences of a sedentary lifestyle are a bit scary, there are some simple things providers and parents can do to reverse this trend for children. To combat unhealthy weight gains in children, providers and parents must not only instill healthy eating habits in young children, they must also encourage children to get generous amounts of physical activity every day
Following is general guidelines:
Children who participate in regular, adequate amounts of structured and unstructured physical activity on a daily basis, and who are taught healthy eating habits are more likely to grow up healthy, strong and have fewer health related conditions.
S.W.A.C.A. plans to involve youth in 2012 with education and enhanced activities (i.e. walking, dancing, hiking, golf - to support proper health and nutrition. Please join our efforts to support our future by supporting today’s youth with your time and/or donation.
WHY SHOULD WE TRY TO IMPROVE
Read below from
Nutrition Research Newsletter, August, 2007
Annual expenditures on weight-loss products exceed $30 billion in the United States. Despite these costs, the prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to escalate. Approximately 47.4% of Americans were overweight and 15.1% obese during 1976 to 1980, as compared to 65.1% and 30.4% during 1999 to 2002. In particular, women, minorities, and people of low socioeconomic status are affected disproportionately by obesity. The prevalence rates among men do not differ by ethnicity; however, in women, more African Americans and Hispanics are obese (49.0% and 38.4%) than whites (30.7%). Environmental contributors to weight loss include diet, physical activity, and psychosocial factors. Restriction of caloric intake and expenditure of calories via physical activity are the primary mechanisms for the promotion of energy deficits. Dietary components associated with weight loss include higher intakes of protein, complex carbohydrates, dietary fiber, and dairy products; and lower intakes of fat.
Physical activity represents the expenditure side of caloric balance. The Institute of Medicine recommends 1 hour per day of physical activity, based on evidence that this amount may be needed to maintain a healthy weight. Psychosocial influences on weight loss may be especially pertinent for women. Higher rates of depression and deteriorating body image have been associated with increased weight after pregnancy, resulting in lowered self-esteem. Strategies to enhance weight loss focus on improved self-efficacy and reduced stress levels. Models for weight management for low-income mothers are limited. This study aims to identify predictors of weight loss in a sample of low-income mothers of young children.
Mothers (n = 114) of 1- to 4-year-old children participated in an 8-week dietary and physical activity program. This intervention assessed pre- and post-measurements of body weight, diet, physical activity, and psychosocial factors (body image, decisional balance, depression, nutrition attitudes, nutrition knowledge, exercise self-efficacy, social support, and stress). Demographics and health and dieting history were evaluated at baseline
