Prevention of Childhood Obesity Requires More Than Just Sports

By Keith Loria

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 30.3 percent of children ages six to 11 are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese. 

Most experts agree that there are two primary factors for the rise in obese children. First, children and teenagers are not eating the right kinds of foods. Second, America's children are getting less and less exercise on a daily basis. 

Dr. Robert L. Levy, MD, selected as a Chicago Top Doctor by TopTierMD as a top rated pediatrician, is very concerned with the statistics he is seeing in cases involving children and is trying to do something about it. 

“There’s been an increasing problem with obesity, both on a national level and a childhood level, across the nation. It impacts not only what happens for children now, but what happens later in life,” Dr. Levy said. “A lot of the problems that occur in childhood have consequences later on. The sooner you get going on them, the better equipped you are to deal with them from a preventative point of view for problems that can occur later on.” 

A person is considered obese when his or her weight is 20 percent or more above normal weight. The most common measure of obesity is the body mass index. A person is considered obese if his or her BMI is over 30. 

Dr. Levy says that there are a number of adverse health effects associated with obese children and adolescents, including an increased morbidity and mortality in later life as well as asthma, diabetes, sleep apnea and orthopedic complications.  

“There are heart issues, increased cancer risk, increased diabetes risk, high blood pressure and of course, in addition is the overall well being of being able to participate and be comfortable,” Dr. Levy said. “All of those things are important.” 

According to the American Obesity Association, today's youth are considered the most inactive generation in history, caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities. 

Dr. Levy says that a two-pronged attack is needed to fight childhood obesity. 

“I feel strongly about exercise and weight control,” Dr. Levy said. “There’s diet, and the division from the diet is for both quantity and quality of food. Exercise is obviously very important as well.” 

While many people may think that playing a sport is enough exercise for a child, Dr. Levy recommends a regular aerobic routine such as running, walking up inclines, swimming laps or riding a bike. 

“Half and hour a day, five to six days a week, children need sustained aerobic exercise where they are getting their heart rate up and keeping it up for 30 minutes at a time,” Dr. Levy said. “Sports participation is great but the way they are, you run a little, then you stop. It helps but it doesn’t take the place of this sustained aerobic exercise.” 

Dr. Levy also recommends alerting children and their parents to life habits and eating patterns for children dealing with obesity issues and talking with them about diets and appropriate eating habits.  

“As doctors, our first priority is recognizing problems and trying to call parents in and call attention to them in a constructive way at an early time so something can be done about it,” Dr. Levy said. “You don’t want to start pushing at people so hard that you push girls into anorexia; it’s a delicate balance.” 

Dr. Robert L. Levy, MD was selected by TopTierMD as a Chicago Top Doctor and is considered to be best in children’s health  in Chicago.  He specializes in general pediatrics, the treatment of pediatric allergies and immunology.