Creating healthy behaviors can ward off obesity in babies

Mother's birth big babies Often when mother's birth big babies, many feel it is a sign of strength, exceptional health and promises of a long term survival. However, sometimes larger babies never lose the "baby weight" and go on to be quite obese. There are things parents can do by instilling habits that can lead to healthy years coming up for offspring including limiting TV time.
A new report released this week by The Institute of Medicine (IOM) outlines more details.
chair Leann Birch, professor of human development and director in the Center for Childhood Obesity Research at Pennsylvania State University stated:
"Contrary to the common perception that chubby babies are healthy babies and will naturally outgrow their baby fat, excess weight tends to persist. This is a national concern because weight-related conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure once occurred almost exclusively in adults but are now occurring at rising rates among teens and young adults. Child care providers, health professionals, and policymakers can be helpful partners to parents in reducing obesity risk by creating healthy environments and implementing positive practices during the crucial early years of development."
Strategies to encourage physical activity, healthy eating and good sleep habits are needed to reduce high rates of obesity among infants, toddlers and preschoolers in the United States are in the report. The issue requires a holistic approach that includes identifying when young children are overweight, increasing physical activity, encouraging healthy eating, and making sure children get enough sleep.
Rates of excess weight and obesity among U.S. children ages 2 to 5 have doubled since the 1980s. About 10% of children from infancy up to age 2 years and a little more than 20 percent of children ages 2 to 5 are overweight or obese, the report said.
Pediatricians and other healthcare professionals have an important opportunity to make parents aware of their child's excess weight early on, and the IOM recommends that healthcare professionals measure weight and height or length in a standardized way, as well as pay attention to obesity risk factors, such as rate of weight gain and parental weight, at routine pediatric visits.
In addition, the IOM recommends that parents and child care providers keep children active throughout the day and provide them with diets rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and low in energy-dense, nutrient-poor foods.
Caregivers also should limit young children's television time and ensure that children sleep an adequate amount each day. What happens to children during the first years of life is important to their current and future health and well-being.
Over the past 20 years, Americans have reduced their physical activity and increased the amount of time they spend in sedentary pursuits. The need to reverse this trend extends to even the youngest members of society. Evidence suggests that higher levels of physical activity are associated with a reduced risk of excessive weight gain over time in younger children.
Therefore, the committee recommends that child care providers and early childhood educators afford infants, toddlers, and preschool children with opportunities to be physically active throughout the day. Child care providers and early childhood educators also should reduce the amount of time they spend sitting or standing. Healthcare providers should counsel parents on how to increase their children's physical activity and reduce the time they are sedentary at home as well.
In addition to promoting physical activity among young children, caretakers also should pay careful attention to how they feed children. Children's food preferences can develop as early as infancy. While research suggests that breastfeeding is associated with a reduced obesity risk for children, many hospitals and healthcare professionals do not provide sufficient information about or support for breastfeeding.
Without the benefit of outside advice or resources, mothers are less likely to start breastfeeding or may stop earlier than is recommended. Because of the health benefits conveyed through breastfeeding, the committee recommends that adults who work with infants and their families promote and support breastfeeding exclusively for six months and continued in conjunction with solid foods for one year or more.