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ARTelevision · 05-05-2003, 05:28 PM

Study: Even U.S. toddlers are obese

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Even toddlers in the United States are obese, and they are not only overweight, but are showing early signs of diabetes and other diseases associated with being fat, researchers say.

To their alarm, the researchers found that sending such children to a specialist did not seem to help them get to healthier weights.

"Perhaps the epidemic of obesity can be stopped if we intervene very early with an intensive behavioral modification program," Dr. Emily Liu of Kaleida Health's Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, New York, said in a weekend statement.

"Children at risk of obesity must be identified very early, even at the preschool level," said Liu, who led the study. "Obese children often have obese parents, so an effective family-based multi-factor intervention program should begin as soon as obesity is diagnosed."

Liu and colleagues looked at the medical records of 385 children seen by endocrinologists -- hormone specialists -- at the hospital between 1984 and 2002. Most of the children were already obese, defined as being in the 85th percentile for weight

The parents were instructed on proper diet and exercise for their children and were advised to meet with a dietitian. But two years later, the children were, on average, even more overweight, the study found.

"Clearly, referral to pediatric endocrinologists and dietitians is not effective in treating childhood obesity," said Liu. "An effective weight-loss program should not only focus on children, it should also include the parents and the school system. Obese children likely have obese parents. High-calorie school lunches may add to the problem."

The children also had high levels of insulin, which can lead to type-II diabetes.

"In fact, the incidence of type two diabetes in children has risen significantly in recent years, along with high prevalence of obesity," said Dr. Teresa Quattrin, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Buffalo.

Abnormally high insulin levels were found in children as young as 4 years old, the researchers told a meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Seattle.

In addition, 13 percent of 147 children tested had abnormal liver-function tests, the researchers said. These tests are an indication of a condition called fatty liver, which is common in obesity, and can in turn lead to cirrhosis.

More than 60 percent of Americans are classified as obese or overweight, which raises the risk not only of diabetes, but of heart disease and certain cancers.

......................................................

As you may know, I consider junk food - the terrible processed high-calorie, high sugar, high cholesterol "food" that is sold to Americans and that Americans habitually consume to be a serious issue.

The obvious symptom of a terrible diet is obesity. It's getting worse daily. Do you consider it a serious issue too?

Arock · 05-05-2003, 05:39 PM

It's interesting this just came up. My girlfriend is a kindergarten teacher, and is constantly complaining about the poor parenting habits of the parents of her kids. Specifically she feels like she's always fighting a battle against their diet. The kids love fast food and parents feel it's a reward to treat them to it. Breakfast at McD's for reward turns into breakfast at McD's everyday. That and some parents are just lazy- drive thrus are easier than cooking.
At any rate, I've always suspected the information this article mentions. Americans are fat lazy people. We eat terribly because it's easy. If we can't have the discipline to make ourselves eat healthy, there's no way we'll be able to convince a child to eat right (especially once they've developed a taste for happy meals).

louiedog · 05-05-2003, 05:42 PM

Is anyone in this country at the right weight? If we listen to the media everyone is either anorexic because of this "thing ideal" or obese. Now it's the infants. How long do you think it will be until the shelves are flooded with books from doctors about how to get your baby at ideal health? Watch for it on Oprah.

Atropos4 · 05-05-2003, 05:42 PM

Yes

When I see the big big babies (sometimes100lbs +) on daytime tv talk shows I almost cry. At that young of an age it is not their fault. Usually the parents are also extremely over weight which is their business but they shouldn't let a baby do the same thing. The life expectancy can not be that great for any baby with that kind of a weight problem. I'm actually surprised that the extreme situations aren't seen as neglect. Parents these days can hardly get away with yelling at their kids but they can get away with allowing their babies to eat waaaayyy to much and end up at age one weighing over 100lbs? Sad . Very Sad.

louiedog · 05-05-2003, 05:45 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Arock
It's interesting this just came up. My girlfriend is a kindergarten teacher, and is constantly complaining about the poor parenting habits of the parents of her kids. Specifically she feels like she's always fighting a battle against their diet. The kids love fast food and parents feel it's a reward to treat them to it. Breakfast at McD's for reward turns into breakfast at McD's everyday. That and some parents are just lazy- drive thrus are easier than cooking.
At any rate, I've always suspected the information this article mentions. Americans are fat lazy people. We eat terribly because it's easy. If we can't have the discipline to make ourselves eat healthy, there's no way we'll be able to convince a child to eat right (especially once they've developed a taste for happy meals).

My mom is also a kindergarten teacher and she tells me how things have changed over the last 30 years she's been doing it. I'm from a rural area and with a small school the lunches feature more homemade foods than most cafeterias. Things that kids used to love are now being thrown out because no one will eat them. Unless it's a frozen food or fast food thing the kids pretty much won't eat them anymore. Apparently parents don't cook anymore and kids don't get used to eating good food.

Phaenx · 05-05-2003, 06:27 PM

I'll agree it's a problem. I usually go on atkins for 2-4 weeks in the spring time to lose what I gained over the winter, this is something I started doing 2 or 3 years ago after I started noticing I was gaining weight due to a lack of exercise (football conditioning) and continuing my regular diet of 2-3 cans of pepsi a day and occassionally going out to big boy or mcdonalds or something with friends. It took me going on that diet for the first time to realise how unhealthy the types of things I ingested were. Fast food and pepsi were big problems, actually pop in general has obcene amounts of sugar in it (baring diet =), this is not good for you if you're not going to do anything about it I quickly learned.

Luckily for me I'm getting home cooked meals on a steady basis now (I've been learning how to kick ass behind a stove as well, though I'm nowhere near on the par of both of my parents), and I'm much more careful of how I eat and my vigilance concerning daily exercize. This is something I plan on explaining to my children (if and when) and providing an acceptable diet.

That's what I plan to do. I've no doubt a good percentage of people agree with me, but it's the ones that don't care that concern me. When you eat so much you transform yourself into a huge java the hut-esque blob, I think it may be time to try to educate yourself on the finer points of nutrition.

Why noone cooks anymore, why people aren't attentive to their diet and so on I wouldn't know. I can take a guess though for the sake of interest, and of course to stir the pool of discussion.

I believe it has something to do with the breakdown of a traditional family structure, not all the finer points, but just where a housewife stays home and ensures their kids recieve these types of things. That's not to say I think women should stay home and be subserviant to a providing male, I'm all for women in the workplace and so on. What I'm saying is -someone- has to stick around and take care of this stuff. A child won't do it themselves, I knew I as a child had the logic of "if it's tasty and I'm hungry I'm eating it". Would that change if mom was home to enforce a healthy diet? I personally think so. But of course I could be wrong.

krwlz · 05-05-2003, 06:34 PM

my mom always cooked, and she damn good if i dont say so myself, and my grandmother and aunt (fathers side) are awesome as well, so i almost always get a good balanced home cooked meal, i always took it for granted.

by the way, im the right weight! haha, well actually im prolly just a hair underweight, but its all metabolism, plus im active (and the above mentioned diet)

maxero · 05-05-2003, 06:34 PM

darwinism.

gibber71 · 05-05-2003, 06:41 PM

I think the majority of the blame goes to the parents. There is no reason why anyone of any age should eat shit like McDonald's, KFC etc.. especially kids. Do parents give their kids cigarettes,alcohol or drugs, things that can harm them in the longterm, no. But they stuff them with crap that can and will lead to heart disease,strokes and respiratory illnesses. What a shame that such laziness and complacency has not only become commonplace,but also exceptable

Ambition · 05-07-2003, 09:43 PM

It's a very sad thing that there are so many overweight kids in the US. But it the parents fault and theres really not much we can do.... Try telling a parent that they're not doing there job as a parent. You'll be lucky not to get attacked. It's sad but there's nothing we can do. Just watch and nod your head in disappointment.

sixate · 05-07-2003, 10:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ARTelevision
As you may know, I consider junk food - the terrible processed high-calorie, high sugar, high cholesterol "food" that is sold to Americans and that Americans habitually consume to be a serious issue.

The obvious symptom of a terrible diet is obesity. It's getting worse daily. Do you consider it a serious issue too?

I agree 100%.

The only reason small children are getting so huge is because parents don't know when to tell their kids NO! For some reason parents are afraid to do that. That and they'll just let them play video games all day and sit on their asses and order pizza and pop a few nights a week and eat a shitload of other fast food cause parents themselves are to damn lazy to cook a good healthy meal.

JStrider · 05-07-2003, 11:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Atropos4

I'm actually surprised that the extreme situations aren't seen as neglect.

Well Back home i know there was a young girl like 3-5 that was almost 200 pounds and she was taken from her family because it was seen as neglect... i dont really know if they got her back or what... but i find it really disgusting when people are extremely overweight but dont do anything about it... except sit on their butt and eat...

ive put on some weight... college cafeteria food and too much time doing school work and not being active... this summer im plannin to get running and climbing and lifting weights regularly... get my self back into sub 6minute miles if possible :-D

05-05-2003, 05:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
ARTelevision I change Location: USA	Baby Fat. Study: Even U.S. toddlers are obese WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Even toddlers in the United States are obese, and they are not only overweight, but are showing early signs of diabetes and other diseases associated with being fat, researchers say. To their alarm, the researchers found that sending such children to a specialist did not seem to help them get to healthier weights. "Perhaps the epidemic of obesity can be stopped if we intervene very early with an intensive behavioral modification program," Dr. Emily Liu of Kaleida Health's Women's and Children's Hospital in Buffalo, New York, said in a weekend statement. "Children at risk of obesity must be identified very early, even at the preschool level," said Liu, who led the study. "Obese children often have obese parents, so an effective family-based multi-factor intervention program should begin as soon as obesity is diagnosed." Liu and colleagues looked at the medical records of 385 children seen by endocrinologists -- hormone specialists -- at the hospital between 1984 and 2002. Most of the children were already obese, defined as being in the 85th percentile for weight The parents were instructed on proper diet and exercise for their children and were advised to meet with a dietitian. But two years later, the children were, on average, even more overweight, the study found. "Clearly, referral to pediatric endocrinologists and dietitians is not effective in treating childhood obesity," said Liu. "An effective weight-loss program should not only focus on children, it should also include the parents and the school system. Obese children likely have obese parents. High-calorie school lunches may add to the problem." The children also had high levels of insulin, which can lead to type-II diabetes. "In fact, the incidence of type two diabetes in children has risen significantly in recent years, along with high prevalence of obesity," said Dr. Teresa Quattrin, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Buffalo. Abnormally high insulin levels were found in children as young as 4 years old, the researchers told a meeting of the Pediatric Academic Societies in Seattle. In addition, 13 percent of 147 children tested had abnormal liver-function tests, the researchers said. These tests are an indication of a condition called fatty liver, which is common in obesity, and can in turn lead to cirrhosis. More than 60 percent of Americans are classified as obese or overweight, which raises the risk not only of diabetes, but of heart disease and certain cancers. ...................................................... As you may know, I consider junk food - the terrible processed high-calorie, high sugar, high cholesterol "food" that is sold to Americans and that Americans habitually consume to be a serious issue. The obvious symptom of a terrible diet is obesity. It's getting worse daily. Do you consider it a serious issue too? __________________ create evolution

05-05-2003, 05:39 PM	#2 (permalink)
Arock Crazy Location: Center Ice	It's interesting this just came up. My girlfriend is a kindergarten teacher, and is constantly complaining about the poor parenting habits of the parents of her kids. Specifically she feels like she's always fighting a battle against their diet. The kids love fast food and parents feel it's a reward to treat them to it. Breakfast at McD's for reward turns into breakfast at McD's everyday. That and some parents are just lazy- drive thrus are easier than cooking. At any rate, I've always suspected the information this article mentions. Americans are fat lazy people. We eat terribly because it's easy. If we can't have the discipline to make ourselves eat healthy, there's no way we'll be able to convince a child to eat right (especially once they've developed a taste for happy meals). __________________ The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win you're still a rat

05-05-2003, 05:42 PM	#4 (permalink)
Atropos4 Think about it Location: North Carolina	Yes When I see the big big babies (sometimes100lbs +) on daytime tv talk shows I almost cry. At that young of an age it is not their fault. Usually the parents are also extremely over weight which is their business but they shouldn't let a baby do the same thing. The life expectancy can not be that great for any baby with that kind of a weight problem. I'm actually surprised that the extreme situations aren't seen as neglect. Parents these days can hardly get away with yelling at their kids but they can get away with allowing their babies to eat waaaayyy to much and end up at age one weighing over 100lbs? Sad . Very Sad. __________________ Minds are like parachutes. They work better open. "If I were Hermione, I would have licked his pantleg."

05-05-2003, 06:27 PM	#6 (permalink)
Phaenx The Northern Ward Location: Columbus, Ohio	I'll agree it's a problem. I usually go on atkins for 2-4 weeks in the spring time to lose what I gained over the winter, this is something I started doing 2 or 3 years ago after I started noticing I was gaining weight due to a lack of exercise (football conditioning) and continuing my regular diet of 2-3 cans of pepsi a day and occassionally going out to big boy or mcdonalds or something with friends. It took me going on that diet for the first time to realise how unhealthy the types of things I ingested were. Fast food and pepsi were big problems, actually pop in general has obcene amounts of sugar in it (baring diet =), this is not good for you if you're not going to do anything about it I quickly learned. Luckily for me I'm getting home cooked meals on a steady basis now (I've been learning how to kick ass behind a stove as well, though I'm nowhere near on the par of both of my parents), and I'm much more careful of how I eat and my vigilance concerning daily exercize. This is something I plan on explaining to my children (if and when) and providing an acceptable diet. That's what I plan to do. I've no doubt a good percentage of people agree with me, but it's the ones that don't care that concern me. When you eat so much you transform yourself into a huge java the hut-esque blob, I think it may be time to try to educate yourself on the finer points of nutrition. Why noone cooks anymore, why people aren't attentive to their diet and so on I wouldn't know. I can take a guess though for the sake of interest, and of course to stir the pool of discussion. I believe it has something to do with the breakdown of a traditional family structure, not all the finer points, but just where a housewife stays home and ensures their kids recieve these types of things. That's not to say I think women should stay home and be subserviant to a providing male, I'm all for women in the workplace and so on. What I'm saying is -someone- has to stick around and take care of this stuff. A child won't do it themselves, I knew I as a child had the logic of "if it's tasty and I'm hungry I'm eating it". Would that change if mom was home to enforce a healthy diet? I personally think so. But of course I could be wrong. __________________ "I went shopping last night at like 1am. The place was empty and this old woman just making polite conversation said to me, 'where is everyone??' I replied, 'In bed, same place you and I should be!' Took me ten minutes to figure out why she gave me a dirty look." --Some guy Last edited by Phaenx; 05-05-2003 at 06:31 PM..

05-05-2003, 06:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
maxero Crazy	darwinism. __________________ cough

05-05-2003, 05:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
louiedog Crazy	Is anyone in this country at the right weight? If we listen to the media everyone is either anorexic because of this "thing ideal" or obese. Now it's the infants. How long do you think it will be until the shelves are flooded with books from doctors about how to get your baby at ideal health? Watch for it on Oprah.

05-05-2003, 06:34 PM	#7 (permalink)
krwlz Fledgling Dead Head Location: Clarkson U.	my mom always cooked, and she damn good if i dont say so myself, and my grandmother and aunt (fathers side) are awesome as well, so i almost always get a good balanced home cooked meal, i always took it for granted. by the way, im the right weight! haha, well actually im prolly just a hair underweight, but its all metabolism, plus im active (and the above mentioned diet)

05-05-2003, 06:41 PM	#9 (permalink)
gibber71 Loser	I think the majority of the blame goes to the parents. There is no reason why anyone of any age should eat shit like McDonald's, KFC etc.. especially kids. Do parents give their kids cigarettes,alcohol or drugs, things that can harm them in the longterm, no. But they stuff them with crap that can and will lead to heart disease,strokes and respiratory illnesses. What a shame that such laziness and complacency has not only become commonplace,but also exceptable

05-07-2003, 09:43 PM	#10 (permalink)
Ambition Insane Location: Miami, FL	It's a very sad thing that there are so many overweight kids in the US. But it the parents fault and theres really not much we can do.... Try telling a parent that they're not doing there job as a parent. You'll be lucky not to get attacked. It's sad but there's nothing we can do. Just watch and nod your head in disappointment. __________________ Looking for answers to questions that can't be answered.