Health

HealthWatch: Childhood Obesity A Family Affair

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Our nation's obesity epidemic is most devastating to our kids.

Obese children are at high risk of becoming obese adults and facing health problems along the way.

Now, research says that weight loss in kids may not only be about diet and exercise – family involvement is key.

"I was sneaking candy and a lot of junk food," Mateo Wright said.

"I would buy bagels and sometimes a bacon, egg and cheese," Malikye Wright said.

Malikye and Mateo Wright are working on their weight and succeeding.

"It made me feel like I am Superman and I can run around fast now," Mateo said. "When I was eating junk food, I couldn't run that fast."

"Losing weight in a household is a huge emotional burden on the family," Dr. Sonia Gidwani, of St. Luke's Hospital, said. "It creates a lot of battles between parents, between grandparents, between kids and parents."

The Wright boys are under the supervision of Dr. Gidwani, who's guiding the whole family toward healthy living.

Studies show that this is the most effective way to weight loss in children.

"I was the first one to really get into the health kick," Malikye's and Mateo's mother, Patricia, said. "I lost 60 pounds."

"You need a mediator who can talk to them on a monthly basis and say you're all on the right track," Gidwani says.

More than 9 million school-aged children are obese and, as a result, doctors are seeing illnesses in that group that they've never seen before: high blood pressure, heart disease, and arthritis.

Dr. Gidwani uses a food chart to educate families about calories and portion size.

"We need to know how many calories we're eating, and what it takes to wash it all off," Gidwani says. "And this is a good way to stimulate parents, as well as kids."

Parents should follow a few simple tips to help their kids maintain a healthy weight.

Don't use food as a comfort. Don't force kids to finish their plate, but instead simply serve less. It's also important to limit the time kids spend in front of the television, as it's directly linked to obesity.

For Malikye and Mateo, exercise goes hand-in-hand with their healthy eating habits.

One of the highest-risk times for unhealthy eating is when kids are home, alone, after school.

Experts suggest leaving out healthy snack options like fruit and nuts, and making sure unhealthy alternatives like chips and soda stay out of the house altogether. 

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

---