COSPRO Child Obesity Newsletter August 2009
What's On Top
- Did you watch the Telethon? For me it didn't seem to have the same feel as the originals from way back in the '80's. But we were all a lot younger then and anything a bit out of the norm was a cause for excitement (What? No Goodnight Kiwi?). Of course it's all relative: Probably kids who watched or participated in this latest Telethon were just as excited about the event as we oldies were back in the day... Anyway, as an avid Talkback Radio listener I've picked up a general feeling of public concern that we should actually need a Telethon to provide Kiwi kids with such basic essentials as a raincoat and a good pair of shoes. All power to Kids Can Stand Tall - the primary recipient of the Telethon donations - and the great work that they do. But why should we need such an organisation in the first place? What happened to Aotearoa being 'godzone' and the 'best place in the word to bring up children'?
Probably there's no one answer, but rather a combination of social, economic, and political factors contributing to contemporary 'first world' families being unable to adequately feed and clothe their kids. I think that few of us would blame such families directly for their predicament, and that those who would might need to take a wider view of contemporary society and the values, priorities, and ethics (or lack thereof) which it promotes.
Like the saying goes: No man is an island. We are truly all responsible for what goes on in our communities, and if you're going to criticise certain families for the way they raise their children then you must also criticise yourself for being a part of that community. And there's an analogy here around attitudes towards families of children who are obese. You can sit back and point your finger at those families, or you can accept that you are part of a community which has - as a community - allowed obesity to occur in its children.
Topics Of Interest
- Does being an obese parent mean my child is also going to be obese? This is obviously a significant concern for many obese Mums and Dads who are eager for their children to experience a healthier and more physically active life than they themselves did, or had the opportunity to do.
Such parents are often understandably concerned that their children are going to grow up experiencing all the negative things about being obese that they experienced as children themselves. Bullying, exclusion, low self-esteem, lack of self confidence, etc... They want to know, "is my child going to be obese because I was?"
There is no easy answer to this question because it involves so many issues, but one thing is certain; your child is not predestined to become obese just because you are (or were)!
http://children.webmd.com/obesity-children
Sure, there are genetic factors involved in obesity, but even so, such factors do not mean your child is going to be obese just because you happened to be. There's a lot of ongoing research around how much influence genes play in causing child obesity, but most medical researchers will tell you that 'nuture' (the way you raise your children) is just as important as 'nature' (your child's inhereted genes) when it comes to whether or not your child is going to become obese.
http://www.ajcn.org/cgi/content/full/78/6/1051
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=56467
In other words, the way you bring up your kids probably has as much influence on whether or not they become obese as do the genes you passed on to them. Either way, the best you can do is to encourage your child to follow a healthy lifestyle with plenty of physical activity and healthy food choices. Of course, you will need to role-model such a lifestyle to your child by partaking in plenty of physical activity and healthy food choices yourself. After all, parents are their child's first teacher and guide...
- Just on this, what about mums-to-be who are concerned about their babies becoming obese because there's a history of obesity in the family? Mostly the same thing applies as above, but you should also share your concerns with your primary health professional(s) so they can suggest ways for you to get your new boy or girl off to a good start!
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=77642
If you're really concerned about this you might want to talk with a Registered Dietician. Ask your GP for a referral:
https://www.dietitians.org.nz/appointment-with-a-dietitian/
In The News
- Kiwisport is a new Government initiative which aims to help school-age children become more involved in sports and other physical activities. Here's the official Kiwisport website:
http://www.beehive.govt.nz/release/kiwisport+initiative+good+young+people
Encouraging kids to become more active has got to be a good thing, right? But Kiwisport is not without it's critics. For example, Dr. Toomath from Fight the Obesity Epidemic (FOE) says that "To increase sport in schools without reversing the decision to allow schools to again sell junk food would be ludicrous," and Labour's health spokeswoman Ruth Dyson says "eating patterns as well as exercise needed to be tackled".
http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/2741510/Kiwisport-fund-not-enough
Basically, what they're both saying is that kids need to eat well and to play (excercise) well in order to develop and maintain a healthy weight, and that the Kiwisport initiative focuses only on the 'playing' side of the equation. So here again we are confronted with complexity around issues and causes relating to the development of obesity in children. Actually, the Kiwisport website seems to avoid the issue of child obesity altogether, and instead seems to focus on the participation of children in team sports as a generically healthful policy.
Sure, it is! But such a generic policy is also likely to overlook the unique and specific challenges, needs, and requirements of kids who are already obese. These kids will need special consideration when it comes to the crunch, so to speak. It's all very well to develop a policy which promotes healthy activity, but not all kids subject to the policy will be ready or able to participate, and my concern is that this could initiate a whole new 'underclass' of overweight and obese children who are going to get left out on the sidelines once again.
- Here's something to get excited about: ''Scientists have developed an anti-obesity pill which could dramatically reduce weight'':
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/obesity/news/article.cfm?c_id=271&objectid=105...
Reading through this article I had an uneasy feeling that COSPRO is about to become obsolete. Well, if it works in mice then it's sure to work in humans... But seriously, how likely is it that a pill is going to resolve the issue of obesity in children?
Famous last words?
I guess time will tell, but in the meantime COSPRO is here to help you and your child around any weight-related challenges your children may be experiencing, and I hope you will make use of our service until such magic pills do indeed, if ever, become a reality.
Email your comments, ideas, thoughts, opinions, and questions to cospro
ymail [dot] com for publication in this newsletter.
You can also include any child obesity related news, topics of interest, or events that you or your agency may be involved with.
Contact COSPRO
Phone (04) 904148
Cell 027 3554553
Email cosproymail [dot] com
Website www.cospro.webs.com
Regards,
Chris Lakomy,
COSPRO
- News tags:
