More of the Best,
Less of the Rest

At times, Boca Raton resident Michelle* feels like a failure as a mother. Not because her daughter Susie,* gets bad grades in school or can’t get along with otherchildren. In fact, she’s one of the most popular kids in her class.

“It’s discouraging at times,” says Michelle. “It’s really difficult to be a parent of an overweight child. People assume you’re inside the house stuffing her with cake and icecream - when you’re trying your best to offer healthy choices. The problem goes waydeeper than people think it does. It’s hard to count calories with a 5 year old.”

Michelle and her husband, John,* are not alone in their quest to manage their child’s weight problem. According to Dr. Daisy Merey, childhood obesity is now an epidemic.

“Twenty-five percent of all children in America are overweight,” says Merey, a bariatrician who studies obesity and its treatment. She cites an even more startling statistic: By 2030, the entire American population will be overweight, according to Dr. Sharon Dalton of New York University.

Many factors contribute to this growing problem. “In my practice, 20 percent of my patient population have thyroid problems. Another 80 percent have insulin resistance,” Merey says.

Other factors include societal pressures. “With both parents working, there’s not always time to prepare healthy meals, and too many carbohydrates and fat are consumed,” she says.

A lack of physical activity - some of it due to computers, television, and video games - is another problem. In addition, children once spent more time playing outdoors, but potential safety hazards now keep many inside.

Susie’s parents have been concerned with their daughter’s weight since she was a toddler, mainly because her mother has battled a weight problem since childhood. “The day Susie turned 2, we switched from whole milk to skim milk,” says Michelle, “and she never drinks juice.”

Susie also is very active, participating in swimming and sports, but her weight continues to rise. “The problem is, obesity is not a choice,: Michelle says. “People don’t make the choice to be obese.”

What can a parent do? Various programs are offered by doctors, nutritionist and dietitians. Some are rigid and include calorie counting, while other programs stay away from numbers. Many plans focus on involving the entire family.

Before starting a program, discuss overall philosophies with the professional you choose.

Christine Bandy, a registered dietitian and licensed nutritionist who practices in West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Gardens, emphasizes, “You should never put a child on a diet. It’s so important that we don’t do calorie counting or fat-gram counting, or anything specific with numbers.” She suggests focusing on more positive lifestyle changes- “more of the best, less of the rest.”

At Merey’s practice, she develops an individualized program for each child, which includes parents monitoring their child’s food intake, using food diaries for motivation, and weighing in weekly. It becomes a game,” explains Merey. “It’s important for them to be monitored.”

She encourages parents to buy only wholesome, nutritious foods for home use. “It’s OK if you go out to have an ice cream or dessert occasionally, but don’t have it in the house. It’s difficult to tell your child not to have ice cream when you have it in the house.”

Merey also cautions parents to beware of the “feeder”- the friend who makes chocolate cake, the neighbor who offers your child cookies.

Bandy likes to take the emphasis away from food. “We need to stop labeling ‘good food’, ‘bad food.’ Sometimes when children are eating bad food, they think they’re bad.” Instead, Bandy concentrates on behavior management.

She says, “With children old enough to understand, I ask them to listen to their bodies. What does it mean to be hungry; how does their body and belly feel? What’s a satisfied amount; when are they stuffed? This self-awareness works well with a lot of kids.”

Bandy also addresses emotional eating, portion control, exercise, and family habits. She recommends making meal time a positive experience for the whole family and setting boundaries where food may be eaten in the house.

“Above all, for overweight children and all children, emphasize positive self-esteem and self-image,” says Bandy.

Says Merey: “Weight loss is very complex, whether you’re a child or an adult. Let your children know they are loved, no matter what they weigh.”

*Michelle, John and Susie wish to remain anonymous.