Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 23, Number 4, 1 April 2006 — Keiki's weight critical to long-term health [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Keiki's weight critical to long-term health

Did you see in recent newspaper reports that European children are becoming obese? What's the cause? They are now eating the same foods that made U.S. ehildren obese. Experts predict that by 2010, the number of overweight children (ages 5-18) in North and South America will increase from 30 to 50 percent, and European children will follow close behind. These ehildren will likely carry obesity into adulthood, and will suffer more from heart disease, stroke and numerous obesity-related

heahh problems. The cost for their medical care will be astronomieal. It is often difficult to determine whether our children are momona (simply chubby) or momona loa (obese), yet understanding the difference is critieal to their heahh. The issue is confusing because childhood growth is not smooth, whieh is why we use the term "growth spurts" to describe growth in children. What usually occurs is that a child gains a little weight, then his/her shoe-size grows, he/ she grows in height, and then the child typically returns to his or her usual girth. Pediatricians and child specialists are best at evaluating your child's growth. Pediatricians usegrowth charts that give a "percentage" for

height and weight for eaeh stage of growth. This percent is based on measures for boys or girls at a particular age. Pediatricians are the family's expert and should watch a child's development, advising if the child is becoming too heavy for his or her height. The doctor should also advise parents on how to achieve eontrol of a child's weight. It is important, as parents, grandparents and families, to keep eaeh other healthy and aware of potential problems, particularly with our children. In the past, there were more children to eat a share of family meals. Yards and open spaces were larger, and children were expected to play hard after school and on weekends. Children also did family chores, like washing, hanging and folding clothes, mowing and raking the yard, sweeping, and mopping the house and porch. And snacks grew on trees and shrubs instead of coming in packages, bottles or cans. With

all that physical activity and difference in food, fewer children or adults were as overweight as today. Times have changed, and we need to change too. Native Hawaiians now have the sad distinction of being the most seriously overweight group in Hawai'i. This happened in recent times.

Statistics show that the Hawaiian populahon began getting overweight in 1950s and 60s, and now it is out of control. We need to exercise, eat smarter, drink water and live healthier. More importantly, we need to keep our children from becoming momona loa. This will save heahh, medical expenses and Hawaiian lives. S

OLAKINO • Y0UR HEALĪH

By Claire Ku'uleilani Hughes, Dr. PH„ R.D.

Foods that are high in sugar and fat are contributing to an epidemic of childhood obesity.