Battling childhood obesity.

• Author: Werner, Doug
• Position: American Thought

MOUNDS of indisputable evidence are in and there is no debate: the U.S. is suffering from a childhood obesity crisis of epidemic proportions, an epidemic that not only dooms its victims to a lifetime of chronic illness, psychological disorders, and even early death, but one whose current and future costs also are posing a real economic threat to our health care system.

According to the Institute of Medicine, nearly one-third of all American children under the age of 18 are overweight or obese, and that number has grown by 10% every decade for the last 30 years. The American College of Sports Medicine estimates that today's generation of youth will be the first in our history not to outlive their parents. Total direct health care costs attributable to childhood obesity top $14,000,000,000 per year, with health care costs for obese children nearly 48% higher than nonobese kids. As Kenneth Cooper, the "Father of Aerobics," says: "If you cannot find the time to exercise, you better find the time to be sick."

Who is responsible for solving the physical inactivity and diet issues that are considered the primary drivers of this condition. As it is prone to do with any issue that demands personal responsibility and accountability, the nanny state is doing its best to legislate solutions. From taxes on sugary drinks to fast food-free zones near schools, state and Federal governments are taking a stance on this issue that, by design, almost completely ignores the most-critical influence in this battle--the role of the parent.

Government can pass all the laws it wants; that does not relieve parents of their responsibility. Depending on government intrusion and policymaking to ensure the right behaviors is not the answer. Besides, does anyone really believe that an extra five or 10 cents per soda, or an extra five minutes to the nearest fast-food joint is going to change anyone's eating habits? Really?

The public education system, too, has contributed to this dilemma by offering only one or two hours of gym class per week in too many elementary schools, as well as eliminating recess altogether in a number of instances. Kids need a minimum of 60 minutes per day of exercise to be fit and healthy, not one or two hours per week. Ironically, physical education typically is one of the few subjects in school that issues no homework. Our government can force any physical education requirements it wants on schools, but without the guidance and inspiration of parents at home, and for 365 days per year, most overweight or inactive children will not benefit nearly enough to solve the problem.

"We are not going to reduce obesity by focusing only on reducing food intake," says James Hill, director of the Center for Human Nutrition at the University of Colorado. "Without increasing physical activity in the population, we are simply promoting unsustainable levels of food restriction. This strategy hasn't worked so far and it is not likely to work in the future."

Parents of inactive or overweight children need to wake up and take control. This is an issue that neither government nor "the village"

can fix for you--and the risks are severe. Obese children are twice as likely to be obese as adults and twice as likely to suffer from diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. In addition, overweight children are more likely to be bullied, teased, and discriminated against, which can lead to harmful mental health issues.

I am a Baby Boomer who grew up in the 1960s and 1970s--long before there were any signs of a childhood obesity problem. Back then, like now, there were convenience stores full of junk food and candy...