SPECIAL REPORT—Obesity is a nationwide problem for a growing number of adults, however public concerns over childhood obesity is on the rise, too according to a report issued by the University of Michigan C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

In a national poll conducted by the university, childhood obesity outranked all other health concerns in the United States, regardless of race or ethnicity for 2009.  “This is the first year the three major racial/ethnic groups all agree,” said Matthew Davis, M.D., director of the poll. “In 2008, among whites, the chief concern was obesity, while among blacks the chief concern was teen pregnancy, and among Hispanics the chief concern was smoking.”

In North Carolina, the numbers of obese children are more alarming than the national average.

Data from the NC Nutrition and Physical Activity Surveillance System (NC NPASS) presented in 2004 revealed an epidemic of overweight children. One in eight preschool children were shown to be overweight. More than one in five children with an age range of five to 11 were considered overweight. More than one in four youths 12 to 18 years of age was shown to be obese.

In a 2007 Duke Health report, Dr Dennis Clements, chief of primary care pediatrics at Duke Children’s Hospital and Lesley Stanford, registered dietician at Duke Children’s Health Center, examined the effects of obesity in children and the overall family unit.

“Many parents ask me if their child is overweight, or at risk of becoming overweight, and they want to know what to do about it, Dr. Clements stated. “The most important thing I tell them: Obesity is a family event, not an individual event.”

Clements further indicates that while some family members may be more prone to gaining weight, others might seem to stay slim no matter what they eat. However, in order to support a healthy diet and lifestyle with children, the entire family should consider changing to healthier meals, getting regular exercise and other good habits that have beneficial health consequences.

Registered dietitian Lesley Stanford explains in great detail what parents should do if they have concerns about obesity in their children. “If your child is overweight or at risk of becoming overweight and you want to take action, start with a visit to your child’s pediatrician—he or see can give you many of the tools you’ll need to help,” Stanford states.

She also offers some advice to parents directly with these tips:

-Limit intake of sweetened beverages and instead offer water to quench thirst.

-Limit 100% juice to four to six ounces per day for kids 2-6 years of age and eight to 12 ounces a day for older children.

-Limit television, computer and video games to no more than two hours a day and discourage snacking while engaged in such activity.

-Encourage daily physical activity and set a good example for your children by participating. Buy a Frisbee, jump rope or a kick ball.

-Provide portion sizes of food that are appropriate for the age.

-Do not encourage the “clean plate club” and instead teach children to stop eating when full.

-Avoid overeating at buffets and do not encourage super-sized meals when eating out.

-Prepare and eat more meals at home with fruits and vegetables.

-Choose healthier options for meals away from home.

-Resist eating snacks directly from large bags. Proportions placed in a bowl and consuming just one helping helps prevent overeating.

-Create a healthy eating environment with more healthy choices more easily accessible.

-Offer vanilla wafers, graham crackers, animal crackers, canned fruit packed in its own juice, fresh fruit, saltine crackers, baked chips and pretzels for snacks.

-Only purchase low-fat or nonfat dairy products.

-Keep fruit and vegetables readily available.

-Plan healthy meals together and eat together at mealtime.

-Grow a garden.

Heading off obesity early and encouraging a healthier lifestyle can reduce the potential for high blood pressure, sleep apnea, diabetes and psychosocial and orthopedic problems later on.

The University of Michigan 2009 poll asked adults across the nation to rate 23 different health concerns for children living in their respective communities.  Forty-two percent of U.S adults who participated in the poll rated childhood obesity has the top health concern.