By Don Heinzman
ECM Editorial contributor
Concern is growing over the increasing number of obese children in the state and nation.

In the nation, nine million children are considered overweight. Since the 1970s, experts say the number of obese kids, 6 to 11 has tripled and of students 12 to 19, has doubled.

Doctors say being overweight is a greater health risk to teenagers than sex, drugs and smoking.

The Minnesota Department of Health doesnít have data on obese kids for the entire state, but notes that a study involving the WIC program, which measured weights and heights of kids ages 2 to 5 years, found 13.6 percent were overweight.

A study done by the University of Minnesota of fourth graders in St. Paul schools, 41 percent were determined to be overweight.

Students today are getting too little exercise, watching too much television and eating fatty, calorie-laden convenience foods. Instead of going outside to play, they are playing video games, using computers and talking on cell phones.

Overweight children are more at risk to have diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, sleep apnea and certain kinds of cancers.

They generally do not do well in school because they feel isolated they tend to become depressed.

The Minnesota Department of Health organized a state-wide task force on childhood obesity. A steering committee wants to create a state-wide system to monitor overweight children.

A state plan to counteract obesity in Minnesota will be finished in October.

In addition, every school has a wellness program in place and part of it is to reduce the number of overweight kids.

Above all else, the place to reduce childhood pounds is in the home where parents, first of all, should insist on kids eating a family meal together. Studies show that students who eat meals with the family have better diets, eat healthier foods and generally do better at school.

Schools have the Wellness program which recommends eliminating soft drinks in school vending machines and insisting that students exercise, particularly at recess. Some schools have cut out recess to use the time better to concentrate on their studies so they can pass the tests. Only Illinois requiresÝexerciseÝevery day of the week.

Some used to say that government shouldnít get involved in what kids are eating and how much exercise they are getting. That should be the familyís responsibility, but like so many things these days, the family has difficulty controlling what their youngsters eat and do.

Wendy Hanson, state obesity prevention coordinator for the Department of Health, says whatís needed is enforcing the physical education requirement in the public school system, creating state-wide nutrition standards, and enforcing the school wellness policies, not just monitoring them. Finally, she believes there should be a statewide surveillance program to see how many obese kids there are and whatís being done about them.

Parents in particular should pay more attention to what their children are eating and how much physical exercise they are getting. Those in authority should enforce not just monitor school wellness programs.

Top of Page

Caledonia Argus
314 West Lincoln St.
P.O. Box 227
Caledonia, MN 55921-0227
507/724-3475

E-Mail: editor.argus@ecm-inc.com