How parents can confront childhood obesity

Excess weight and obesity in childhood and adolescence has become a serious public health concern in the United States. Today, nearly 1 in 5 children and adolescents are affected by obesityopens in new window, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Specifically, in 2020, 12.7% of 2- to 5-year-olds, 20.7% of 6- to 11-year-olds, and 22.2% of 12- to 19-year-olds were considered obese. In 1980, obesity affected only about 5% of U.S. children.

This increase has significant implications for the life expectancy of obese youth, who are likely to experience higher rates of hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes. Obesity is also associated with poorer mental health outcomes and reduced quality of life.

So, what can be done? It is well established that changes to diet and physical activity are key to combating obesity. However, changes to environmental conditions are rarely discussed. Obesity reflects the complex mix of influences that both genetics and environment have on physical health. It is no accident that there are disproportionately higher rates of obesity among children and families living in underserved communities where environmental resources to support healthy behaviors are scarce.

Environments (particularly in underserved communities) can undermine healthy behaviors in the following ways:

• There is a lack of ready access to healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Families in poorer communities often live in “food deserts” where supermarkets and grocery stores are scarce or charge higher prices. Instead, they rely on convenience and small neighborhood stores that offer few, if any, healthy food choices. To make matters worse, many underserved communities, particularly in urban areas, have an overabundance of fast-food establishments that are often located near schools and playgrounds.

• The built environment in poorer communities, which often has fewer parks, bike lanes, playgrounds, recreational facilities, or walkways, restricts opportunities for children and teens to get exercise.

• Families living in high crime neighborhoods are understandably reluctant to allow children and teens outside of the home to play or exercise.

• Under-resourced schools in many communities have eliminated or cut back on physical education, an invaluable way to introduce exercise into children’s lives.

Work with local or city government 

• Parents can push for the introduction of affordable transportation (e.g., bus or shuttle lines) to supermarkets or grocery stores currently located outside their communities. 

• Parents can also call for local leaders to improve their land use policies by encouraging the construction of parks or playgrounds and restricting further encroachment by fast-food establishments into their neighborhoods. Local governments can also promote the use of vacant land for community gardens or farmers’ markets. 

• Parents can advocate for increased community policing to enhance neighborhood safety for their children.

Work with schools and the local community

• Schools are ideal sites for community gardens from which healthy fruits and vegetables can be harvested and sold inexpensively to local residents. These gardens can be used to benefit children’s education as they learn about basic biology as well as healthy eating and nutrition.

• Parents can push for more after-school programs that incorporate physical activity or nutrition education.

• Parents can pressure schools to eliminate the use of vending machines on school grounds.

• Parents along with members of the community can volunteer to coach afterschool sports (e.g., Little League, softball, basketball, etc).

• Incorporate healthier foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein into the family’s diet and limit consumption of processed foods, which often have high amounts of refined sugar, starch, salt, or fat.

• Sit down to enjoy nutritious meals with their children. Research has shown that children readily like foods presented in positive contexts.

• Make water easily available throughout the day and limit sugary drinks.

• Limit the amount of time children spend doing sedentary activities such as watching television, playing video games, or surfing the web. Instead, encourage children to find fun activities to do with family members or on their own that involve more activity.

• Encourage good sleep habits to help children and adolescents routinely get a good night’s sleep.