The month of September is nationally recognized as Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and across the country, obesity has been an underlying issue among children for some time.
It is important to bring light to the issue of overweight children because “it is a major public concern,” says part time lecturer from the Department of Health and Biomedical Science and former registered dietitian, Laura Jimenez-Garza.
“It’s a nationwide issue, but in Texas alone you are looking at about 20% of out youth ages 10 to 17 are obese,” says Garza.
Different factors contribute to childhood obesity, from diet to exercise to food security.
“There is also an increase in TV watching, and increase in soda consumption, even skipping meals,” said Garza.
Garza states that obesity can lead to chronic diseases later in life, such as heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, joint pain and high blood pressure.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends obtaining adequate sleeping times, staying active and limiting high calorie temptations, as a way to help children maintain a healthy weight.
Garza also commented on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacted families nutrition wise.
“The BMI [body mass index] in children has increased, children between the ages of 2 and 19 has increased during this pandemic period, [more] than the pre-pandemic.”
However, the Texas and federal government have made various programs and infographics available for children and their families to help with food insecurity according to Garza.
“The government did a great job with the ‘Keep Kids Fed Act’ during the summer to keep summer programs rolling even though this pandemic period because we know that a lot of children still didn’t have access to meals in the summer,” said Garza.
Garza says it is important to have the support from family, and community. Having assistance in schools that is readily available for a child in need, and parental involvement groups is key in order to encourage children to maintain a healthy weight.
“The child has to have support at home, and then of course providing the support in schools because the child spends a lot, eight, nine hours in the school setting”, said Garza.
For more information about obesity prevention and programs available, visit the CDC website.
This is Silvana Villarreal for Vaquero Radio.
