| A survey found that many Americans whose | | | | The survey of 2,060 adults, conducted over |
| children are obese do not see them that way. | | | | the summer by Internet research firm |
| That is worrisome because obese children run | | | | Knowledge Networks, collected height and |
| the risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, | | | | weight measurements on the children from |
| cholesterol problems and other ailments more | | | | their parents, then used that to calculate |
| commonly found in adults. And overweight | | | | body mass index. When a child's BMI was |
| children are likely to grow up to be | | | | higher than the 95th percentile for children |
| overweight adults. | | | | who are the same age and gender, the child |
| | | | was considered obese. |
| "It suggests to me that parents of younger | | | | |
| kids believe that their children will grow | | | | Based on what the parents reported, 15 |
| out of their obesity, or something will | | | | percent of the children ages 6 to 11, and 10 |
| change at older ages," said Dr. Matthew M. | | | | percent of the children ages 12 to 17, were |
| Davis, a University of Michigan professor of | | | | obese. The Michigan researchers said that, |
| pediatrics and internal medicine who led the | | | | too, suggests parents underestimate their |
| study, released earlier this month. | | | | children's weight. National estimates |
| | | | indicate about 17 percent of U.S. children |
| "When I see a child that is obese at these | | | | are obese under the standard used by the |
| younger ages, I take that as a sign of ways | | | | researchers. |
| nutrition can be improved, a child's activity | | | | |
| level can be improved." Among parents with an | | | | Dr. Reginald Washington, a member of the |
| obese, or extremely overweight, child ages 6 | | | | American Academy of Pediatrics and part of |
| to 11, 43 percent said their child was "about | | | | the AAP's committee on childhood obesity, |
| the right weight," 37 percent responded | | | | noted that in about half of cases where a |
| "slightly overweight," and 13 percent said | | | | child is obese, one or both parents are |
| "very overweight." Others said "slightly | | | | overweight, too - and parents can take a |
| underweight." | | | | pediatrician's concerns as a personal |
| | | | affront. |
| For those with an obese child ages 12 to 17, | | | | |
| the survey found more awareness that weight | | | | Experts said doctors need to help parents |
| was a problem. Fifty-six percent said their | | | | better understand the health risks of |
| child was "slightly overweight," 31 percent | | | | childhood obesity. "Obesity isn't just |
| responded "very overweight," 11 percent said | | | | something that affects the clothes that you |
| "about the right weight" and others said | | | | buy or how you are perceived by your friends |
| "slightly underweight." | | | | and your schoolmates," Davis said. "It is |
| | | | something that can have health effects, not |
| Dr. Goutham Rao, clinical director of the | | | | only in adulthood but in childhood." |
| Weight Management and Wellness Center at | | | | |
| Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, said | | | | Alvaro Castillo has been writing about health |
| obesity in children isn't as easy to identify | | | | and specializing pregnancy along with how to |
| as in adults. "Plus, because of the social | | | | deal with the first year of their baby's life |
| stigma, it's not something that parents are | | | | for 10 years, helping women with positive |
| willing to admit to readily," Rao said. | | | | results. |
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