Childhood obesity still rising

Campus daycare worker says she doesn't see problem with infants, toddlers

By Donna Taketa
The Collegian

Kids are getting fatter, they need to exercise more and eat healthier, experts said Wednesday.

Addressing this ballooning problem was the goal of a Childhood Obesity Leadership summit in Fresno that attracted more than 200 educators and health professionals from throughout the Valley.

“The outcome of this summit is to arrive at innovative approaches to reducing the instances of childhood obesity,” said Virginia Rondero Hernandez, an associate director of the Central California Children’s Institute at Fresno State.

The Children’s Institute was one of several organizations sponsoring Wednesday’s event that attracted speakers from across the nation. Art Ulene, a former NBC medical consultant, was the keynote speaker.

A 2004 study by the California Center for Public Health Advocacy stated that 28 out of 100 children are overweight. In the San Joaquin Valley 12.2 percent of kids aged 12-17 are overweight, according to a publication by the Children’s Institute. The state average is 11.4 percent.

Overweight and obese children are at a higher risk for developing health problems such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. They have a greater likelihood of remaining overweight as adults.

“Never in my dreams would I have thought I’d have to tell a 5-year-old, an 8-year-old, a 13-year-old, you need to lose weight,” said speaker Yolanda Gutierrez, a registered dietician and associate professor at UC San Francisco. However, at the Lipid Clinic at UCSF, she is dealing more frequently with fat children.

“Most important is parental awareness of a child’s weight,” Gutierrez said. “Parent’s are not good judges. They sometimes think, ‘the chubbier my child, the healthier and stronger he is.’”

She emphasized that the family unit needs to act immediately to rectify the problem before long-term damage occurs.

Those present were in agreement that healthy food choices are vital to combating obesity.

“School lunches are a strong issue and our schools fail somewhere,” said speaker Al Schieder, the director of the food and nutrition services department at the Folsom Cordova Unified School District.
Schieder shared with the audience his progress in reforming the school lunch program in his district.

“When you say ‘cheeseburger’ you think fries and Coke, right?” Schieder asked. “The industry imprints this in your brain. When the kids are small you can’t start imprinting potato chips and junk food.”

Schieder advocates removing vending and soda machines from schools, even though the schools are given money for the endorsements.

“Some educators think a tuba is worth a couple of livers or hearts,” Schieder said.

Among the recommendations for a healthy diet are whole grains, fruits, vegetables, lean meats and low-fat milk. Also of high importance is physical activity and limiting time spent in front of the TV.

Don Hellison, a professor at the University of Illinois in Chicago, shared his model for physical activity for kids.

He said feedback from the children was vital and that, “it’s not just about physical activity. It’s first about taking responsibility.”

Modeling healthful eating and physical activity for children is also important.

We like to think, as adults, we set the examples,” said Hernandez. “But that’s not always the case, it’s very important for a family-centered approach and to work together for a common goal.”

Stephanie Morris, a registered dietician from the Health Center at Fresno State, acknowledged that time is an issue when it comes to developing healthy habits and college students are often rushed.

“We think of college students as young and single, however you have another half with families that are trying to set a good example,” Morris said.

Although children of students cannot be treated at the health center, Morris can offer recommendations to parents.

“Only those that pay a health fee can receive services, but it would be wrong not to factor in the family,” Morris said. “If they come to me with a nutritional issue I will address it.”

In such a scenario she would recommend that a pediatrician see the child.

Fresno State students with children receive priority to enroll their children in the campus daycare centers.

Elizabeth Brewer, the supervisor of the infant and toddler center, said she hasn’t noticed any problems with overweight kids.

“At this age they should have a little meat on them,” Brewer said.

However, she said that healthy meals are planned and in one instance a mother requested that her child’s portions be monitored.

The Children’s Institute at Fresno State is a research facility concerned with the well-being of children. It often sponsors events such as the “Confronting Childhood Obesity: A Community Challenge” summit.

“As adults we can change our habits,” said Hernandez, “whereas children are kind of clueless. We need to be more proactive so that when they become college-aged they don’t have to deal with these things like obesity.”