Childhood Overweight: Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions

1. Childhood Overweight:Nutrition and Physical Activity Interventions Susan Algert

2. Surgeon General’s Call to Decrease Overweight & Obesity • Approx. 300,000 deaths a year currently are associated with obesity and overweight • The total direct and indirect costs attributed to overweight and obesity amounted to $117 billion in the year 2000.

3. The Problem • In 1999, an estimated 61 % of U.S. adults were overweight, along with 13 percent of children and adolescents • Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980, while overweight among adolescents has tripled

4. The Problem • Only 3 % of Americans meet four of the five federal Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for intakes of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats. • More than 60% of Americans fail to meet federal recommendations for 30 minutes of moderate activity five days a week. • 40% of adults engage in no physical activity

5. California • Approximately 18% of 4th & 5th graders were “at risk” for being overweight, and 14% were overweight • Approximately ¼ of teens are at risk for obesity and 7% were overweight • Low income children consistently higher rates of overweight

6. Costs to society • Obesity may account for as much as 6.8% of health care costs in the U.S, roughly 100 billion a year • Obesity is associated with a 36% increase in inpatient and outpatient expenditures • Strong association with reduced physical health related quality of life

7. Communication, Action Research and Evaluation(CARE) • Change perception of obesity so that health is main concern and not personal appearance • Direct research toward prevention and treatment and toward ethnic/racial/ income health disparities • Ensure daily, quality physical education in schools

8. CARE • Healthy food choices in schools • Community facilities available for physical activity • Reduce time spent watching t.v. and in sedentary behaviors

9. Components of Fitness • Strength • Flexibility • Aerobic conditioning • Endurance

10. Energy Systems of Physical Activity • ATP • Creatine Phosphate

11. Glucose Use • Muscles use glucose and their own glycogen stores during exercise • When glycogen is depleted muscles become fatigued • Diet and intensity of activity affect glycogen use • Moderate aerobic activity can use fatty acids and conserve glycogen

12. Fat use during physical activity • Energy from breakdown of fat can come only from aerobic metabolism • Training affects fat use • Sustained moderate activities such as walking use body fat stores as major fuel source

13. Protein Use • Not a major fuel source for physical activity • Synthesis of body proteins is suppressed during activity • Contributes no more than 10% of fuel used during activity • Carbohydrate rich diet spares protein from being broken down

14. Fluids • Water is most important nutrient • Water loss of 1-2% can reduce a person’s capacity to do muscular work • Recommendation is for 1-1.5 ml/kcal or ½ cup per 100 kcal expended • Electrolytes replaced by regular diet

15. Physical Activity for Children Sports teams Lessons Exercising in a park, sports facility or school

16. Healthy Diet for Children • Fat? • Sugar? • Whole grains, fruits and vegetables