September - October: Childhood Obesity

Childhood obesity is a topic of which I unfortunately know very little. I was asked by a parent to make it a topic on this blog and ever since then I've been trying to do some reading on the topic. In the end, I find myself with a bit more knowledge in the areas of nutrition and physical education but really, more questions than I had before I started!

Is this a nature vs. nurture debate?
Is it hereditary?
Is it really linked to socioeconomic status?
Is it really linked to an increase in technology leading to a more sedentary lifestyle? (...but if it's linked to socioeconomic status, shouldn't people at the lower end of the socioeconomic ladder, who probably can't afford all the latest technological entertainment/recreation, be more physically active?)
Is this obesity causing an earlier onset of puberty?
Is the increase in childhood obesity caused by 2 working parent households where home-cooked meals are not as common? (....feeling very, very guilty about that one myself)
Is this due to lack of education in the areas of nutrition and physical education? - whose responsibility is it to teach children healthy lifestyle habits?

Here is my confession: I have two children, Sadie is 13 and Rees is 10. They both have a bowl of ice cream almost every single night. It's just something we've always let them do after dinner each night. They both could probably tell you the number of their favorite value meal at both Wendys and McDonalds (very ashamed of this). We do order pizza for dinner one a night a week and we order Chinese food for dinner one night a week. Both Sadie and Rees buy their lunch at school every day. I would elaborate on my children's television, iPod, and computer use -- but I'm just too embarrassed, thinking I've allowed it in excess. Clearly, I'm not doing the best job when it comes to setting the bar for healthy habits with my children.

Here is what I feel good about: Both Sadie and Rees LOVE vegetables. Seriously, they absolutely love them! A veggie tray goes very fast in my house. Rees really loves cooked vegetables - he'd sit down with a bowl full of mashed potatoes and broccoli and be the happiest kid ever. Sadie is always looking for a salad to eat. I don't know how that happened but I'm grateful they both love vegetables. They also both love fruit! Rees would eat apples and grapes all day if we let him. Sadie loves all fruit too. So, I'm lucky. I also feel good about their physical activity. Both are very active in sports all year. But, beyond the scheduled athletic activities, both Sadie and Rees enjoy kickball, Capture the Flag, and many other outdoor games they play until late at night out on the cul de sac. And, both of my children are what I would consider to be looking physically fit - not overweight at all. Now I feel better...

Here are some of the links to websites where I read a lot about childhood obesity:
http://www.bing.com/health/article/mayo-126380/Childhood-obesity?q=childhood+obesity&qpvt=childhood+obesity

http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/

http://www.letsmove.gov/

http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/index.html

http://www.smallstep.gov/kids/flash/index.html

So obviously I don't yet have a handle on what many consider to be a national crisis - childhood obesity. I'm hoping some of you choosing to read this blog do have more information and greater insight. Please don't just read this....post! Post your knowledge, thoughts, confessions (like I did), opinions, questions, etc. When we can hear from those of you with more information on specific topics, we all learn!