New Study to Examine Childhood Obesity

A new study funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) at the University of Nevada School of Medicine is hoping to determine the most effective ways to deal with obesity in children. The NIH notes that obesity is one of the nation's top health problems.

According to Sachiko St. Jeor, director of the school's nutrition education and research program, "It's an epidemic. About 50 percent of adults and 20 percent of children are overweight. And (those numbers are) increasing."

The study will focus on overweight mothers as well as pre-school children and will determine if intervention through families can help curb obesity in an effective way. The researchers' goals include maintaining a healthy weight in children and incorporating healthy habits early in life. Another goal is for overweight adults to achieve a healthy weight.

The researchers hope to determine if applying healthy lifestyle changes using a family approach is better than using an individual approach in addressing obesity. They also hope to determine if applying these changes in children at an early age is more effective in helping to prevent obesity.

The researchers commented that another important goal is to keep children away from a restrictive fitness regimen - which the researchers say occurs in many, failed adult fitness programs. St. Joer noted, "We don't want to put the child on a diet. The program is about teaching them healthy eating lifestyles and incorporating activity in a family-based environment." (Associated Press, November 28, 2000)

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Here we go again with governments and experts putting the blame and reponsibility on Mom's shoulders. Kids are influenced by everything they see and hear around them. They are constantly bombarded with TV ads for Cocoa Puffs and Froot Loops and sugary fruit drinks, and candies ..... kids want what looks cool. If Mom serves up healthy food, she becomes the worst mother on the planet. Maybe gov't should take a hard look at advertising regulations about what gets blasted into our kids' faces Saturday mornings, and weeknites after school. And what about all the gov't cutbacks to physical education and sports activities in schools?? Not every family has the time or cash for extra-curricular activity.

Just another example of taking the responsibility from society as a whole, and dumping it squarely onto the shoulders of already over-worked parents.

(end of rant)