From Youth Health Journal…..”I always enjoy stories from UPI, and I found this one very interesting. This article discusses how obesity can start in young children as early as nine months. The sad truth is now, there are many young children who are obese, and this is a strong predictor that they may lead a life of obesity as they grow older. Although these children are very young, and may find it difficult to get exercise at such a young age, many of them are consuming sugary drinks, especially at bedtime, which is contributing to their excess weight. By the time children start kindergarten, 6 percent are already severely obese and on the path to a lifetime of health issues from diabetes to heart disease. This article even went as far as stating that an obese mother during preganancy may have a child who could potentially have weight problems. So, what can we learn from this? We can teach our young children about healthy eating, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle at very young ages. Help them build positive habits at a young age that will contribute to a healthy body. If a parent is able to be a good ‘health’ role model, even better! Always remember, good habits can start at any age – – for anybody, both parent and child. All it takes is committment, determination, discipline, and pride. Also, good health happens in ‘baby steps’ and not overnight. Please visit the UPI site to read the complete article.”
From the article…..
A U.S. pediatrician said obesity can begin in infants, so parents should consider fitness a goal not only for themselves and other children, but baby as well.
Dr. Glenn Flores, a pediatrician at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said surpassing the 85th percentile for Body Mass Index at 9 months of age is one of the most powerful predictors of severe obesity, which is defined as being above the 99th percentile of average Americans at any given age.
By the time children start kindergarten, 6 percent are already severely obese and on the path to a lifetime of health issues from diabetes to heart disease, Flores said.
“Multiple risk factors associated with obesity play a role, ranging from the sugary drinks children consume to their bedtime habits,” Flores said in a statement.
The risk for obesity can start even before birth. If the mother was severely obese just before her pregnancy, it’s likely her child also will face weight problems, while being Latino or multiracial is also associated with severe obesity among kindergartners, Flores said.
The first step to reducing the risk of obesity is screening for children who are at high risk. When children are 9 months old, children’s BMI and growth curve should be monitored, Flores advised.
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