COSPRO Child Obesity Newsletter February 2009

What's On Top

- It seems to be increasingly accepted that factors contributing to child obesity are: Low Social Class; Single Parent Families; Single Child Families; Excessive periods of physical inactivity.

Also the prevelance of 'fast food' and the tendency of children to mimic their parent's eating habits are seen to be a significant contributing factor in children. It is generally understood that obese kids should NOT be put on regular ''diets'' because such diets may deny them essential nutrients (vitamins, minerals, & amino acids) essential for their natural growth and development.

So what should we ask our children do? Here are some ideas:

> Eat many different foods
> Eat enough for activity and growth
> Eat mini-meals or snacks
> Have plenty to drink
> Have treat foods now and then
> Take part in regular physical activity
> Moderate the amount of time spent playing computer games and watching television

It's also important for a child to see that the entire family is actively involved in any changes to existing eating patterns. Regular physical activity should also be the primary goal of the entire family.

Eating patterns should be flexible. If they are too strict, adherence will be low.

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411307/776687

- Have you heard about the 'Walking School Bus'? This is a new and very practical way of addressing the transport, safety, and physical activity of children on their way to and from school.

I have to admit that the first Walking School Bus I ever saw caused me a great deal of amusement: There was the teacher / parent holding one end of a rope with the kids holding on to the trailing extremity as if their life depended on it. It was funny to watch, but the more I thought about it, the more I came to realise that this was a really practical idea which addressed a number of contemporary childhood concerns - not least being the lack of physical activity among many of the children who were nonetheless joining the 'bus'.

http://www.ccc.govt.nz/saferoutes/wsb/

Topics Of Interest

- 'Behavioural Lifstyle Interventions' may sound complicated and difficult, but all it really means is that you can help your overweight child to become more socially and physically active by encouraging them to get more involved in social and physical activities.

It isn't as hard as it sounds: Take your child out fishing; take them to church; take them camping; take them for a walk around the block. Whatever you do, engage with them, talk to them, and give them a reason for doing it again!

In The News

- Several agencies and organisations have declared that the child obesity epidemic is a ''myth'':

http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2009/02/07/childhood-obesit...

http://www.stuff.co.nz/4712735a19716.html

http://www.taste.com.au/news+features/articles/1068/childhood+obesity+ep...

This is probably more a matter of individual experience than that of any generaly accepted norms as to whether your child is experiencing challenges as a result of obesity. It's no 'myth' if your child is worried about his or her weight, or is experiencing social or physical challenges because of it!

- With the recent change of Government there has been something of a backtrack on the requirement that school tuckshops provide 'healthy alternatives' to the food choices that were traditionally supplied.

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10501711

But the whole issue is not as black-and-white as it may seem.

http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/NewsDisplay/tabid/209/articleID/28676/Default....

Perhaps it's more about individual choice and personal responsibility than it is about what the Government says we should or shouldn't do. Probably us parents need to take the lead and show our kids how to lead a healthy lifestyle by leading a healthy lifestyle ourselves.

Your Say

- I have had a few people ask why there aren't more programmes or services like COSPRO to address child obesity. Simple answer: I don't know. There are all sorts of support services and programmes addressing all sorts of childhood issues and challenges from Autism to Depression to Anxiety. That's all good, but there's not much around to address child obesity. Perhaps it's because child obesity isn't generally regarded as a 'disability', and so isn't considered 'worthy' of such support. That's the whole reason why COSPRO was developed, and why it's so important to become involved.

Email your comments, ideas, thoughts, opinions, and questions to cosproymail [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) 9041487
Cell 027 3554553
Email cosproymail [dot] com
Web www.cospro.webs.com

Regards,
Chris Lakomy,
COSPRO