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Being Overweight in Early Childhood Increases
Risk of Obesity at 12
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Brief Description:
Children who are overweight as toddlers or preschoolers are more likely
to be overweight or obese in early adolescence
Transcript:
SCHMALFELDT: Children who are overweight as toddlers
or preschoolers are more likely to be overweight or obese in early adolescence.
That's the gist of a report released by researchers in a collaborative
study by the National Institutes of Health and several academic institutions.
The analysis was conducted on data collected as part of the National
Institute of Child Health and Human Development's "Study of Early Child
Care and Youth Development." Dr. James Griffin is an NICHD science officer
with the study. He said the study points to a need to maintain a healthy
weight in early childhood.
GRIFFIN: We're not talking about causality here. So,
in other words, we're not saying "this is genetics" or "it's the environment" or "it's
the parents". All we are saying, though, is is an area where - with a
pediatrician - that they can intervene with nutrition, with increased
exercise. We're not talking about putting these children on a diet. We
are saying "look at their diet" and, you know, maybe do things like maybe
reduce the amounts of sodas and sugars and things of that nature. Increase
more fruits and vegetables, and - again - get them out from in front
of the TV and the video game and get them out exercising.
SCHMALFELDT: Unlike earlier studies, this one calculated
a child's Body Mass Index, or BMI. That's a standard measure calculated
from an individual's high and weight. Kids were deemed "overweight" if
their BMI was at or above the 85th percentile in comparison to national
statistics for children their age. The study authors found that no children
in the study who were below the 50th percentile at preschool or elementary
school age were overweight at age 12. You can read more at the website www.nichd.nih.gov.
From the National Institutes of Health, I'm Bill Schmalfeldt in Bethesda,
Maryland.
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| Date: 10/06/2006 |
Reporter:
Bill Schmalfeldt |
Sound
Bite:
Dr. James Griffin |
Topic:
Obesity, Child Care |
Institute(s):NICHD
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