Busy lifestyles, lack of exercise and ready access to calorie-laden foods have led to the growing national problem of overweight children, said researchers with the University of Nevada, Reno.

About 12 percent of children are clinically overweight, while many more engage in a lifestyle that could put their health at risk, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The CDC recently reported that childhood obesity rates appear to have leveled off after more than two decades of steady increase. However, rates for obesity and children at risk for becoming overweight are high and must be addressed, local researchers claim.

“The reported obesity plateau is encouraging news, but 32 percent of the nation’s children are clinically at-risk for being overweight right now,” said Brie Moore, adjunct professor of psychology in the College of Liberal Arts at UNR. "This really is a public health issue and has affected a huge proportion of children, putting them at greater risk for Type 2 diabetes and other serious health problems."

What is the reason for the increase in childhood obesity rates over the last few years?

"Family behavior in general is the biggest contributing factor we can identify, along with an 'obesogenic environment,'" Moore said. "Access to sedentary activity is high, such as television, video games and the computer, as well as fat-dense, high-calorie foods create a perfect storm in increasing the probablility of obesity."

Moore said contributing factors include families' busy schedules, the pressures of single parenthood and the fact that about 90 percent of families eat dinner in front of the televisionn.

Switching to organic foods or following a vegetarian lifestyle is usually only an option for the upper-middle class, who have better access to resources, Moore said.

"In the research, we've found that the most affected by obesity and obesity-related problems are Mexican-American, Native American and African-American populations, especially those with limited resources," Moore said.

How can families with limited resources and money protect themselves against the medical ravages of obesity?

"We emphasize family involvement, and making changes across the board instead of focusing on one individual," Moore said. "Family outtings can include walks, hikes and bike rides, instead of going to the movies or going out for ice cream or pizza. This is most effective for children in the six- to 12-year-old age range."

Moore also suggested some diet changes to encourage children to follow a more health-conscious lifestyle.

"Get kids involved in preparing meals, so they can eat foods they enjoy and the family can try new things," Moore said. “Children, families and health care providers need effective and low-cost prevention and treatment strategies that address lifestyle behavior, the child’s development level and the family’s resources. Only then can we hope to have a significant impact on this public health issue.”

Families can learn more about healthy habits and how to easily convert this knowledge into practice by checking out the new website: www.FitandHealthyKids.com.

The website was developped by Moore, University of Nevada, Reno psychology professor William O'Donohue, and Barbara Scott, a registered dietician and associate professor in the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Nevada School of Medicine.

"This self-help website discusses how to apply common-sense knowledge about exercise and eating a wide range of health foods into practice," Moore said. "Putting that information into practice is the challenge, and this website shows how to get motivated."

In addition, the local researchers partnered with national and international experts from a variety of fields to publish "best practices" based on their research and documented successes.



This handbook was written to assist pediatricians and other doctors, with information and treatments that take into account cultural norms, the stages of childhood development and barriers to weight loss.