You’ve heard the old adage, “The apple never falls far from the tree.” In the case of combating childhood obesity in preschoolers a new study found that teaching parents is good for children.
Not every parent knows what makes for healthy eating. For this research when the parents learned what is healthy, there were fewer instances of kids being overweight or obese.
As it happens, being healthy is identified by many as the iconic apple, which is why I used the above timeless analogy.
The study was simultaneously conducted at the University at Buffalo and Women and Children's Hospital of Buffalo. It was published in July, 2014 in Pediatrics, the official journal of the Academy of Pediatrics.
According to ScienceDaily.com which featured the study, “Primary care treatment of overweight and obese preschoolers works better when treatment targets both parent and child compared to when only the child is targeted.”
This study supports my both non-scientific and I want to add, non-judgmental, supermarket observation. I confess, I cannot prevent myself when food shopping from studying what is in people’s shopping carts. More on that later in this article, but first here are some of the clinical findings of the study.
The study’s objective according to Pediatrics was to “test in the primary care setting the short- and long-term efficacy of a behavioral intervention that simultaneously targeted an overweight child and parent versus an information control (IC) targeting weight control only in the child.”
Approximately 100 children between the ages of two and five participated in the year-long study. For this experiment, two groups were set up. They both consisted of overweight or obese preschoolers along with a parent who also fit into the same category.
The metrics used to determine participant’s eligibility was body mass index (BMI).
For the study, educating the parents first was the key, “as the intervention was delivered through the parents, who were instructed about the appropriate number of food servings for children and appropriate calorie values. They were taught to avoid 'high-energy' foods, such as those with high sugar content, more than 5 grams of fat per serving or artificial sweeteners.”
Study results found that children who were treated along with their parent were more likely to gain a more acceptable amount of weight for their normal growth process.
Children who were in the intervention group had put on an average of 12 pounds over 24 months. The children in the control group put on close to 16 pounds.
The control group's weight gain made for a decrease of 0.21 percent over BMI from baseline to 24 months.
The group of participating parents also lost weight, “an average of 14 pounds.” The parents of the other group’s weight for the most part remained the same. It is important to treat and teach mom and dad as well as the little ones as potentially indicated by my, let me reiterate, “non-scientific,” supermarket snooping study.
Just this past weekend, I was so excited to head to a new mega supermarket which just opened near my home. The lower prices, extra coupons and a large stock of organic foods lured me to check it (and its shoppers’ choices) out.
I know what you’re thinking, my mother actually said to me, “Joanne, you need more excitement in your life.” Well needless to say, I had plenty of excitement in the store that day with my two-year old son.
He apparently has picked up the nosy habit of shopping cart inspection from me. Only his choices need to be a bit more refined to not include “refined” foods.
Case in point, he observed a large, see-through plastic barrel of cheeseballs in a nearby mother’s cart. I don't want to sound judgmental, but both she and her son would have qualified for participation in the above-mentioned study.
My son began screaming at the top of his lungs, “My cheeseballs! I want cheeseballs!” I reminded my son of the time he ate cheeseballs at a party and his tummy hurt. He also turned my husband and my sheets that infamous cheeseball night bright orange, as we attempted to all snuggle together and watch "Frozen." It was “The First Time in Forever” he had cheeseballs.
To calm him down in the store that day, I resisted the urge to start singing, “Do You Want to Throw Up Cheese Balls?” For the record, I did not give in and buy them for him.
I instead soothed and steered him towards healthier choices singing, “Let it Go, Let it Go.” He loves grapes, strawberries, carrots and yes fortunately, the APPLE, the shiny bright symbol of health.
I underscore that parenting is tough and that many out there may not be educated on what is in many foods. Without sounding preachy, as parents we need to advocate for our children’s food choices, not giving into cheeseball rants or tantrums.
The study results indicate that we should not always let our kids eat or be a “chip (or a cheeseball for that matter) off the old block.”
Sources:
“Overweight, obese preschoolers lose more weight when parent is also treated– ScienceDaily.com.” Science Daily. Web 30 July 2014.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/07/140724172110.htm
“Treatment Outcomes of Overweight Children and Parents in the Medical Home - Pediatrics.aappublications.org.” Pediatrics. Web 30 July 2014.
http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/early/2014/07/16/peds.2013-4084
Joanne Sgro-Killworth is a Television Fitness Expert, Certified Personal Trainer and Sport Nutritionist and Publicist. She is Certified in Pilates, Pre-natal/Post-Partum, Yoga and Senior Fitness. She specializes in Weight Loss, Post-Rehab and Post Cancer Training.
Joanne's fitness plans, recipes and lifestyle advice are available globally on her website http://www.happiwoman.com/ She resides in the Phoenix, AZ area with her husband and son, where she runs her fitness and publicity business, JSK PR, http://www.jskpr.com/
Reviewed July 31, 2014
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith