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Almost 30 years later, this is the official recommendation of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Center for Disease Control on how to most safely manage a child who is overweight. Today, I am a psychologist who specializes in the treatment of eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia. Troubling trends Researchers are beginning to realize that two troubling trends among our youth have emerged over the past three decades. The fi rst is that the prevalence of adolescent obesity has doubled over the past thirty years. Being overweight as a teen is a substantial predictor of adult obesity later in life. Secondly, longitudinal studies postulate that dieting behavior among adolescents makes a person 5 to 18 times more likely to develop an eating disorder later in life. Dieting and/or the use of unhealthy weight loss strategies during adolescence actually predicts obesity and whether or not one will be an overweight adult. For adults, the statistics are even more dismal. Not only are a majority (65%) of American adults estimated to be overweight, but even among the remaining 35% or so who are deemed to be at, or below, a healthy weight, researchers estimate that about half of them are unhappy with their weight and are dieting unnecessarily! Could it be that for every ten American adults, only one person is within a healthy weight range and pleased about it? In a nutshell, approximately 90% of the United States population falls into one of two categories: 1) those who are unhappy about being overweight, or 2) those who are at a healthy weight, but not happy about it. Unnecessary dieting and overeating are also the norm among normal and overweight American children, underscoring the need for early intervention. Among American children, 36 to 46% of normal weight girls were dieting, compared with 50% of overweight girls, and 55% of obese girls. Among 798 teenaged girls, 39% of the sample were dieting to lose weight, 27% reported uncontrollable eating binges, 8% had impulses to vomit after meals, and 3% stated that they engaged in vomiting behavior to control their body weight. I am sure that many people are confused and worried. So what can we do? Can't "Just Say No to Food" Prevention efforts aimed at teens regarding drunk driving, drug abuse, and teen pregnancy have flourished in the past decade with positive results. The cornerstone of these prevention efforts is educating teens about what to do and why. Outlining the physical and emotional consequences of not making these healthy choices are described as paramount. The plea for abstinence from sex, "Just Say No" to drugs, and "MADD" are some examples. These programs typically give children the facts, remain focused on educating them about health risks, and provide information regarding how their body operates. This tells us that if you give kids knowledge and educate them, they can potentially make healthier choices. But what do we say about eating behavior? "Just Say No to Food"? "Mothers Against Dieting"? Unlike under-aged drinking, kids can't "Say No" to food. Kids can choose to abstain from premarital sex, but eating is not optional. Further, some researchers have been disappointed with the impact that eating disorder education has on our youth. In fact, some researchers have gone as far to say that educating teens about eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia actually makes them more likely to experiment with those behaviors. So again, what can we do? Some key facts Here are a few important facts to keep in mind regarding your child's body weight. 1) From a medical standpoint, being underweight is equally as risky as being overweight. 2) It is easier to address a 5-lb versus 10-lb weight change, so early intervention is critical. Unnecessary and/or rapid weight loss can adversely effect a child's growth and immunity, and is correlated with cognitive deficits such as learning disabilities. 3) Nutrition is essential to long-term weight control, but portion control is equally as important. Eating is a complex behavior that can be influenced by factors such as stress and self-esteem. 4) Encourage your school nurse, health, or gym teacher to sponsor educational seminars to help inform children and teens about the importance of maintaining a healthy body weight and how to control portions and energy intake. Ask health teachers to refrain from lessons which describe in detail eating disorders such as Anorexia and Bulimia. 5) If you have specific questions about you or your child, please submit them in writing to my Web mail service at www.friendlymirrors.com. I am also offering free 60-minute Q & A seminars on weight issues at a number of local schools. Speak to your child's guidance counselor or other administrator and ask them to contact me if you are interested. About the author: Dr. Scarano-Osika, lives in Queensbury, NY with her husband and three children (ages 9, 5, and 3). She says a postdoctoral fellowship at Strong Memorial Hospital-University of Rochester, and resident training in pediatric psychiatry, guided her into a new branch of conventional psychotherapy designed to treat Binge Eating Disorder, Anorexia, and Bulimia. |
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I was a heavy set 13-year-old when my
mom sat me down. She was chewing a piece of gum. She took the
already chewed piece of gum out of her mouth and began stretching
it.
