Printer-friendly format

Hamburgers and fries are not the only things Americans are super-sizing these days.

Since the 1970s, the number of overweight children aged six to 11 has tripled — approximately 17 percent of American children are overweight.

Researchers at Ohio State University analyzing data for 3,022 children included in the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth’s Child-Mother study, have concluded that if a child’s mother is overweight or obese before conceiving, the offspring is more likely to be overweight by age two or three. There is also a high probability that an overweight child will carry the extra weight for the remainder of their life.

The extra pounds carried by overweight children present physical as well as emotional risks. Overweight children are at greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, sleep apnea and joint problems than their normal weight peers.

Whether due to genetics or societal habits and practices, the largesse of overweight children can result in emotional torment fostering low self-esteem, depression and social withdrawal.

Because a child’s weight problem affects the entire family, Dr. Denise Edwards, assistant professor of pediatrics and internal medicine at the University of South Florida (USF), established the University’s Healthy Weight Clinic in 2007. The clinic provides a family-centered approach offering medical assessment and supervision, nutritional counseling, physical therapy, psychological evaluation and behavior modification.

Working with Dr. Pauline Powers, director of USF’s Eating Disorders Program, the clinic offers treatment for eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia.

During her training, Edwards, a graduate of USF’s medical school, found herself counseling patients about weight, health and lifestyle. Typically, in a regular office setting, the amount of time a physician can spend discussing nutrition and exercise is limited.

Acknowledging that most medical school curriculums do not delve deeply into those subjects, Edwards sees the clinic as an avenue to educate patients, families and healthcare professionals. In addition to helping patients, Edwards said the clinic serves as a training ground for residents, dieticians, psychologists and medical students.

“The goal is to train future providers who can deal with these issues in an effective way,” she said.

Practicing part-time, two days a week, Edwards sees 20 to 30 patients ranging from age 5 to 70ish weekly. Whether the patient is over or under weight, her goal is the same: “To teach people healthy habits and get them to make long-term changes that can be used for a lifetime.”

Edwards is hopeful that in the near future, the clinic will receive funding to expand its services.



January 2008

Tags:

None

Login and voice your opinion!