Teen Obesity

Teen Obesity Prevention Outline

Teen Obesity

Obesity is defined as an accumulation of excessive fat storage in the body. If a person is 20% heavier than their ideal body weight they are considered obese.

Typically a teen is considered obese when his or her BMI exceeds 30.

* approximately 30.4% of teens are overweight

* 15.5% of teens are considered obese

* One half of all teens are at risk of getting weight related health problems

Main causes of teen obesity

* Increased intake of empty calories found in "junk" food

* Drinking soda and energy drinks

* Insufficient physical activity

* Increased sedentary activities such as television, videogames etc

* Genetic reasons

Serious health problem caused by obesity

* Heart disease and related problems such as high blood pressure and cholesterol

o Heart disease is the leading of death in the U.S

o Obesity is a major contributor

* Type 2 diabetes

o Diabetes is incurable

o Type 2 diabetes is developed in teen years or later

* Asthma

* Sleep problems, including sleep apnea

* Orthopedic (bone) problems due to strain placed on joints and bones from supporting access weight

* Ovary problems

o Polycystic ovary syndrome

Economic consequences

* Obesity is a risk factor to chronic disease

o Biggest killers in the world

o Medical costs

* Direct cost-preventive, diagnostic, treatment

* Indirect cost -Morbity costs income lost from decrease productivity

Unique characteristics of the population that make it vulnerable

* Body is going thru changes

o Physical changes-body acquiring some amounts of fat as a part of puberty

* New responsibilities and obligations

o Driving

o Working

o Selecting colleges

Successful interventions or programs that address your issue and population

* Weight loss programs that change behavior over extended period of time

* School cooking programs that focuses on portion sizes, healthy choices, parent and child involvement.

* Summer weight loss camps that run for 4-8 weeks and typically change diet , portion size and increase physical activity

* Educational & clinical programs that teach new behaviors and habits over a period of time

* National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute- We Can Program (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition)

* FitnessGram- developed by the Cooper Institute to enable physical educators to facilitate communicating fitness testing results to students and to parents. Although the program is designed to assess the fitness levels of children in grades K-12, the program is also appropriate for use with young adults up to age 3.

Lessons learned and Implications for programming? What factors must be taken into account for an intervention to be successful?

* Each program must be individualized in order for it to be successful

* Reevaluate programs with consumers and ask for input or new ideas

* Programs must be culturally sensitive

Environmental factors : safe neighborhoods, how much time is spent watching television, school nutrition programs.Suggested interventions, community enhancements or system changes to address the issue

* Public education campaigns

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