Massachusetts Personal Injury Library
New study of obese students
Massachusetts attorney Thomas M. Kiley concentrates on legal issues affecting children’s health. A new article in The New York Times, shows that ninth graders whose schools are near fast food restaurants have a higher incidence of obesity. The new study of schoolchildren was conducted by economists at the University of California and Columbia University.
After studying millions of schoolchildren, the working paper at the National Bureau of Economic Research found that obesity rates were 5% higher among ninth graders whose schools were within one-tenth mile of a popular fast-food restaurant, compared with schools farther away.
The researchers conducting the study said this comprehensive study proves that fast food has a direct effect on children’s obesity. Another part of the study analyzed millions of pregnant women giving birth in New Jersey. Michigan, and Texas over the past 15 years. The research showed that women who lived within a half-mile of a fast-food restaurant gained more than 44 pounds during the pregnancy, compared with women living farther away.
According to the article, Kelly Brownell, director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University, said these studies prove that fast food restaurants contribute to obesity, especially among children. Brownell said that these studies should prove to policy makers that they should impose zoning laws keeping fast food restaurants from being too close to schools and neighborhoods.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention says that the prevalence of obesity has increased from 5% to 12% for children 2-5 years, and from 5% to 17% for children age 6-11. Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults such as cardiovascular disease (high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.
The CDC says obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years.
What can parents do to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity? The CDC has resources on their website for parents to learn how to balance the calories children consume with physical activity.
One part of balancing calories is to eat foods that provide adequate nutrition and an appropriate number of calories. Parents can help children learn to be aware of what they eat by developing healthy eating habits, looking for ways to make favorite dishes healthier, and reducing calorie-rich temptations including:
Provide plenty of vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain products.
Include low-fat or non-fat milk or dairy products.
Choose lean meats, poultry, fish, lentils, and beans for protein.
Serve reasonably-sized portions.
Encourage your family to drink lots of water.
Limit sugar-sweetened beverages
Limit consumption of sugar and saturated fat.
For new ideas about how to add more fruits and vegetables to your daily diet check out the recipe database from the FruitsandVeggiesMatter.gov.
Another part of balancing calories is to engage in physical activity and avoid too much sedentary time. In addition to being fun for children and teens, regular physical activity has many health benefits, including:
* Strengthening bones
* Decreasing blood pressure
* Reducing stress and anxiety
* Increasing self-esteem
* Helping with weight management
Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily. Since children imitate adults, parents can add physical activity as a daily routine and encourage children to participate.
