Childhood Obesity: Are we doing all we can do?

Dr. Sandy Blizzard Tripp

1999

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990, 1999, 2009

(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)

2009

1990

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

PATIENT STATISTICS

North Carolina StateOverweight 17.1% 18.1%

Obese 25.8% (42.9)

28.0% (46.1)

Duplin CountyOverweight 15.0% 15.9%

Obese 22.5% (37.4)

34.9% (50.8)

Lenoir CountyOverweight 11.0% 16.7%

Obese 14.8% (25.8)

25.0% (41.7)

Location 5 – 11 Years of Age 12 – 18 Years of Age

NC-NPASS, 2009

Welcome to Obesity Related Disease 101What do these statistics mean?

Counties in the top and bottom two quintiles of both diabetes and obesity, 2007

MMWR 58:1259-1263, 2009

Asthma

Heart is muscle and it grows when it works harder …

Increased blood pressure and enlarged heart are now diseases of children not just adults!

Child as young as 4 years showing signs of arterial plaque

Journal of Pediatric Endocrinology & Metabolism, 23, 17-18 (2010)

Fatty Liver Disease

Blount’s Disease

BLOUNT’S DISEASE TREATMENT

DEPRESSIONQUALITY OF LIFE IS POORER THAN A CHILD WITH CANCER

Obesity Costs Money

The direct medical cost of unhealthy lifestyles*

among youth in Lenoir County is over $118,000 annually

If trends continue, the current group of inactive and overweight youth in our county will incur medical care and lost productivity costs of over $174 million by the mid-point of their working years (mid-40s) and over $1.6 billion by the time they retire.

Lenoir County Youth

http://www.beactivenc.org/pages/223/County-Impact/Be Active NC 2008

Limit intake of sweetened beverages

Limit television and video time to 1 to 2 hours per day

  Encourage 60 minutes daily physical activity

5-6 Servings of fruit and vegetables daily

Provide portions sizes appropriate for age 

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE OPTIONS

Schools Can Help

EXERCISE Good, fitness-

based exercise,

makes our brain ready to

learnJohn Ratey, MD, Harvard Medical School

NC Task Force on Preventing Childhood Obesity, 2009

Suggestions for the NC House of Representatives:

State Board of Educationrequired to report to

Education Oversight Committee annually regarding the

physical education program and Healthy Active Children Policy

Received Immediate Priority Ranking from Task Force

Know Your Farmer

Child Nutrition Programs

• “Let’s Move” - Set a good example

• Plant a school garden• Teach kids about fruit and

veggies• Teach calorie counting• Cafeteria Upgrade: Swap the

deep fryer for a salad bar

• Farms to School Program

New USDA Rule Encourages the Purchase of Local Agricultural Products for Critical Nutrition Assistance Programs 'Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food' 

USDA News Release: WASHINGTON, April 26, 2011

Who Decides What is on the Plate?

School lunches must meet Federal nutrition requirements, but decisions about what specific foods to serve and how they are prepared are made by local school food authorities.

http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/AboutLunch/NSLPFactSheet.pdf

School Lunch Menu

Lenoir CountyMay 2011

BRIGHT SPOTS•Apple sauce•Strawberries

•Peaches•Green Beans

•Broccoli•Grapes

SHIFT IN PRIORITIES

In many NC school districts, the philosophy of

“What is the right thing to do for children” has been replaced with the

administration’s priority of

“How much revenue can be generated?”

A la carte

•Cookies •Chips•Debbie cakes•Ice cream•Fried chicken sandwich

1.Eat Smart Move More2.Public School Wellness Programs3.Farms to School4.Let’s Move 5.Community Obesity Summits

Health Care Providers, Elected Officials, Educators, Community Leaders, Parents