New Strategies to Fight Preschooler Obesity: IOM Report

[Guest guest]

A growing number of preschool-age children in the U.S. are overweight or

obese and greater efforts are needed to address the problem, the health

policy group Institute of Medicine (IOM) says.

In a new report, an IOM committee outlined policies designed to reduce

obesity by promoting healthy eating, exercise, and sleep habits among

infants, toddlers, and preschoolers.

But instead of focusing solely on what parents can do, the report

highlighted ways federal and state regulators, doctors, and child-care

workers can help prevent obesity in very young children.

One in 10 infants and toddlers in the U.S. and one in five children between

the ages of 2 and 5 are overweight.

" Contrary to the notion that chubby babies are healthy babies and that young

children grow out of their baby fat, it is looking like children who are

overweight early may be more likely to be overweight and obese later on, "

committee chair Leann L. Birch, PhD, tells WebMD.

*Limit TV Time*

Birch, who directs the Pennsylvania State University Center for Childhood

Obesity Research, says addressing the problem in very young children is

critical because obesity-related conditions such as diabetes and high blood

pressure are occurring with greater frequency among older children, teens,

and young adults.

The IOM report included these recommendations for state and federal

regulators:

- Requiring day care centers and preschools to provide the opportunity

for at least 15 minutes of physical activity per hour to toddlers and older

children, while allowing infants to move freely at times with appropriate

supervision.

- Limit TV and other screen time to no more than 30 minutes for half-day

day care programs and one hour for full-day programs.

- Day care centers and other child-care providers should be required to

promote healthy sleep times during the day.

*Kids Need More Sleep, Exercise*

Birch says just like their parents, very young children appear to be

sleeping less overall these days. Studies show that insufficient sleep time

is a risk factor for obesity.

It is recommended that children age 2 and under get 12 hours or more of

sleep each day and children between the ages of 2 and 5 get at least 11

hours of sleep.

Keeping TVs out of bedrooms, creating environments that promote naps and

nighttime sleep, and establishing sleep routines are all important to

promoting healthy sleep habits, IOM committee member Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD,

MPH, of Washington University in St. Louis tells WebMD.

The report stressed the importance of giving young children plenty of

opportunity to be active during the day.

" We know that children in many day care settings are not getting enough

physical activity during the day, " Birch says.

She says several states now require day care centers to provide the

opportunity for at least two hours of physical activity during an eight-hour

day.

" Children tend to be active in short bursts, so if they have the opportunity

for activity throughout the day they are likely to expend more energy, " she

adds.

*Educating Parents*

Studies have found that many parents don't realize that overweight infants

and toddlers are at higher risk for obesity later in childhood.

For this reason, the IOM committee is calling on pediatricians to measure

infant weight, height, and body mass at every well-child visit to identify

those at risk and help educate parents about healthy eating and exercise

habits.

The IOM committee called on health care providers to encourage new moms to

breastfeed exclusively for six months, and the group called on federal

officials to establish clear dietary guidelines for children under the age

of 2.

" This is the period of life when children are establishing food preferences

and eating patterns, " Birch says.

SOURCES:

Institute of Medicine: " Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies. "

Leann L. Birch, PhD, professor; director, Center for Childhood Obesity

Research, Pennsylvania State University.

Debra Haire-Joshu, PhD, MPH, professor; associate dean for research;

director, Obesity Prevention and Policy Research Center, Washington

University, St. Louis.

News release, Institute of Medicine.

www.medscape.com

--

Ortiz, MS, RD

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