The fact that childhood obesity in the United States has reached epidemic proportions is not news. You've seen the headlines and watched the news. The news itself has become "super-sized"... and so have the repercussions. The real news is the life-long impact excess weight will have on today's children. Overweight children have increased odds for developing:

• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Severe problems with sleep apnea
• Problems with liver disease, asthma, and orthopaedic concerns

What does this obesity epidemic mean to society? It means:

• The number of overweight children has doubled in the past 25 years.
• This epidemic affects kids across the board, hitting all socio-economic, race, and gender groups.
• Overweight children will face social discrimination, low self-esteem, and depression.
• The overweight children of today have a 70 percent chance of becoming an overweight or obese adult and face those major health problems.

Future health care costs will increase proportionately. Today, the cost of adult obesity is estimated at $92.6 billion or 9.1 percent of U.S. health expenditures.

The Causes:

• Overeating
• Poor diet
• Inactivity
• Genetics, in some cases
• Eating disorders, in few cases

Statistics:

• 15.5 percent of U.S. adolescents (ages 12 to 19) are overweight, up from 11 percent in 1994.* In 1965, 5 percent of adolescents were overweight.**
• 15.3 percent of U.S. children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight, up from 11 percent in 1994.* In 1965, 4 percent of children were overweight.**
• More than 10 percent of U.S. preschool children (ages 2 to 5) are overweight, up 7 percent from 1994. ***
• Almost half of all U.S. children between the ages of 8 and 16 watch three to five hours of television daily. Those who watch the most hours of television have the highest incidence of obesity.

*National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
**Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
*** National Institutes of Health

How to Help:
"Be supportive. Children know when they are overweight and don't need to be reminded. They need acceptance, love, and encouragement to change. Families will make or break the goals to be achieved," says Eva Tsalikian, MD, UI pediatrician.

Other suggestions include:

• Start with small, attainable goals that help build healthy habits for the whole family.
• Set guidelines for the amount of time your children spend in sedentary activities like watching television or playing computer games.
• Plan family activities that include hiking, bicycling, walking, simple yard work, or washing the car. Offer positive choices and let your child decide.
• Start out slow. Find activities your child can successfully participate in without embarrassment.
• Don't use food as a reward or punishment.