Obesity rate leaps in Kansas girls
BY ALAN BAVLEY
Kansas City Star
Nobody knows why for sure, but girls in Kansas have been gaining weight at an alarming rate.
From 2003 to 2007, the percentage of Kansas girls 10 to 17 years old who were obese nearly doubled, a new federal study shows.
The 91.4 percent increase in the obesity rate was the greatest experienced by any state and was too large to be considered a statistical fluke, the study's lead researcher said.
"I think that it is definitely real," said Gopal Singh, an epidemiologist with the Health Resources and Services Administration. "But why, that is quite puzzling."
Indeed, the jump is a head-scratcher for experts who work with overweight kids in Kansas. Some were skeptical about the numbers.
Singh's study, published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, used data from telephone surveys that asked tens of thousands of parents and guardians about the health of their children. More than 40,000 children from the 2003 and the 2007 survey were included in the study.
Nationwide, the researchers found statistically significant weight gain among girls. The prevalence of overweight girls increased 9.4 percent and the prevalence of obese girls by 17.6 percent. Changes among boys were smaller and not considered significant.
Among states, only Arizona, with a 90.9 percent increase in obesity among girls, approached Kansas.
But some experts said they weren't seeing the same kind of numbers.
"Our own data wouldn't support any sudden feeding frenzy among Kansas girls," said Ann Davis, a University of Kansas Hospital psychologist who runs weight reduction programs for children at the hospital and in rural elementary schools.
But Davis has noticed that Kansas parents seem more willing now to acknowledge that their children have a weight problem, something particularly uncomfortable to do when the child is a girl.
In years past, Davis would be able to recruit only a few families from a rural school to take part in her program. Now she's overwhelmed by the dozens who want to sign up.
"I've seen a tremendous shift in that, that my child is overweight or obese and I need to take action," she said.
That greater recognition of weight problems may make for more accurate reporting by parents who are surveyed about their children, Davis suggested.
It's not that a lot more girls are tipping the scales in the Sunflower State than in the rest of the country. In Kansas, 16.3 percent of girls were obese in 2007, not significantly higher than the national rate of 13.5 percent, the study found.
But in 2003, just 8.5 percent of Kansas girls were obese. The national rate that year was 11.5 percent.
The obesity rate for Kansas boys didn't change significantly and at 16.2 percent in 2007 was similar to the national rate of 19.2 percent.
"I don't know any factor that would have girls gaining more weight than boys in the state," said Mark Thompson, director of the Kansas Coordinated School Health Program, which works with school districts to develop nutrition and physical activity programs.
Thompson cited surveys of Kansas high school students that found overweight and obesity levels had remained fairly constant from 2005 through 2009.
Thompson said there was "a possibility there is a fluke" in Singh's data.
"It's not because of a statistical anomaly," Singh countered.
Most of the increase in obesity in Kansas may have been among girls who were below high school age, he said.
About one in three children in the United States is now considered overweight or obese, which is raising concerns about their future health and even their longevity. Many children already are developing diabetes or showing early signs of heart disease that typically are found in adults.
First lady Michelle Obama recently initiated the "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. A government report last week offered 70 recommendations, including healthier food at schools and getting children to exercise more, to combat weight gain.
People who are obese are well above normal weight and have large amounts of body fat. Obesity is usually measured by a calculation based on height and weight called the body mass index, or BMI.
For example, a 12-year-old girl who is 5 feet tall would be considered to be at a healthy weight at 110 pounds and obese at 130 pounds.
Singh's study found wide variations in obesity rates among states, even after accounting for ethnic and economic differences.
Kids in Kansas, for example, were twice as likely to be obese as kids in Oregon, which had the lowest obesity rate.
Differences in the availability of parks and playgrounds and in state policies promoting healthy weight among children may play a role, Singh said.
State policies could be a factor in Kansas, said Sarah Hampl, a pediatrician who directs weight management services at Children's Mercy Hospital.
She pointed to a 2009 report by the Trust for America's Health that noted which states had nutrition standards for foods available to children at school or policies for measuring students' BMIs.
"Notably, Kansas was one of the only states in the nation that doesn't have this kind of legislation," Hampl said.
But Hampl has seen interest building among Kansas lawmakers to enact school nutrition standards and other measure to counter obesity.
"Maybe in 2011 we can see some improvement," Hampl said.
Now here is my take on it...
Living in Kansas for 24 years has taught me alot. Living in the country area is hugely different than living in the city. When I lived in Overland Park, Kansas I was surrounded by health. Health food shops, workout centers, dog walkers, joggers, roller bladers, parks, street dances, and lakes. I do not recall anyone being morbidly obese when I lived there. Yes, there were people that were heavy, but they were far and few in between..
Here in Nickerson and Hutchinson, Kansas it is not uncommon to see men and women with stomachs that hang down to their knees. There is a store that supplies hover rounds. There is a McDonald's on every major intersection in Hutchinson and there are 4 McDonald's for a population of 39, 038 people!!!!
I cannot imagine a fatter town than Hutch. There are more restaurants than churches and gas stations combined!
We have no walking parks, no health food stores, no positive reinforcement by state officials and only 1 health club and it charges over $3,000 a year to be a member.
Basically this is the way it goes on our local news.
~
Tonight on Kansas news......
Obesity is taking hold of Kansas, and in other news, Krispy Kreme is moving to Hutchinson, Kansas next Month, there will be a parade followed by an all you can eat donut display located at the Hutchinson Mall 3456 fattbury way......
~
There is no way I can ever see reform in our local towns unless someone stops this FOOD INSANITY!!!!
BY ALAN BAVLEY
Kansas City Star
Nobody knows why for sure, but girls in Kansas have been gaining weight at an alarming rate.
From 2003 to 2007, the percentage of Kansas girls 10 to 17 years old who were obese nearly doubled, a new federal study shows.
The 91.4 percent increase in the obesity rate was the greatest experienced by any state and was too large to be considered a statistical fluke, the study's lead researcher said.
"I think that it is definitely real," said Gopal Singh, an epidemiologist with the Health Resources and Services Administration. "But why, that is quite puzzling."
Indeed, the jump is a head-scratcher for experts who work with overweight kids in Kansas. Some were skeptical about the numbers.
Singh's study, published this month in the journal Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, used data from telephone surveys that asked tens of thousands of parents and guardians about the health of their children. More than 40,000 children from the 2003 and the 2007 survey were included in the study.
Nationwide, the researchers found statistically significant weight gain among girls. The prevalence of overweight girls increased 9.4 percent and the prevalence of obese girls by 17.6 percent. Changes among boys were smaller and not considered significant.
Among states, only Arizona, with a 90.9 percent increase in obesity among girls, approached Kansas.
But some experts said they weren't seeing the same kind of numbers.
"Our own data wouldn't support any sudden feeding frenzy among Kansas girls," said Ann Davis, a University of Kansas Hospital psychologist who runs weight reduction programs for children at the hospital and in rural elementary schools.
But Davis has noticed that Kansas parents seem more willing now to acknowledge that their children have a weight problem, something particularly uncomfortable to do when the child is a girl.
In years past, Davis would be able to recruit only a few families from a rural school to take part in her program. Now she's overwhelmed by the dozens who want to sign up.
"I've seen a tremendous shift in that, that my child is overweight or obese and I need to take action," she said.
That greater recognition of weight problems may make for more accurate reporting by parents who are surveyed about their children, Davis suggested.
It's not that a lot more girls are tipping the scales in the Sunflower State than in the rest of the country. In Kansas, 16.3 percent of girls were obese in 2007, not significantly higher than the national rate of 13.5 percent, the study found.
But in 2003, just 8.5 percent of Kansas girls were obese. The national rate that year was 11.5 percent.
The obesity rate for Kansas boys didn't change significantly and at 16.2 percent in 2007 was similar to the national rate of 19.2 percent.
"I don't know any factor that would have girls gaining more weight than boys in the state," said Mark Thompson, director of the Kansas Coordinated School Health Program, which works with school districts to develop nutrition and physical activity programs.
Thompson cited surveys of Kansas high school students that found overweight and obesity levels had remained fairly constant from 2005 through 2009.
Thompson said there was "a possibility there is a fluke" in Singh's data.
"It's not because of a statistical anomaly," Singh countered.
Most of the increase in obesity in Kansas may have been among girls who were below high school age, he said.
About one in three children in the United States is now considered overweight or obese, which is raising concerns about their future health and even their longevity. Many children already are developing diabetes or showing early signs of heart disease that typically are found in adults.
First lady Michelle Obama recently initiated the "Let's Move" campaign against childhood obesity. A government report last week offered 70 recommendations, including healthier food at schools and getting children to exercise more, to combat weight gain.
People who are obese are well above normal weight and have large amounts of body fat. Obesity is usually measured by a calculation based on height and weight called the body mass index, or BMI.
For example, a 12-year-old girl who is 5 feet tall would be considered to be at a healthy weight at 110 pounds and obese at 130 pounds.
Singh's study found wide variations in obesity rates among states, even after accounting for ethnic and economic differences.
Kids in Kansas, for example, were twice as likely to be obese as kids in Oregon, which had the lowest obesity rate.
Differences in the availability of parks and playgrounds and in state policies promoting healthy weight among children may play a role, Singh said.
State policies could be a factor in Kansas, said Sarah Hampl, a pediatrician who directs weight management services at Children's Mercy Hospital.
She pointed to a 2009 report by the Trust for America's Health that noted which states had nutrition standards for foods available to children at school or policies for measuring students' BMIs.
"Notably, Kansas was one of the only states in the nation that doesn't have this kind of legislation," Hampl said.
But Hampl has seen interest building among Kansas lawmakers to enact school nutrition standards and other measure to counter obesity.
"Maybe in 2011 we can see some improvement," Hampl said.
Now here is my take on it...
Living in Kansas for 24 years has taught me alot. Living in the country area is hugely different than living in the city. When I lived in Overland Park, Kansas I was surrounded by health. Health food shops, workout centers, dog walkers, joggers, roller bladers, parks, street dances, and lakes. I do not recall anyone being morbidly obese when I lived there. Yes, there were people that were heavy, but they were far and few in between..
Here in Nickerson and Hutchinson, Kansas it is not uncommon to see men and women with stomachs that hang down to their knees. There is a store that supplies hover rounds. There is a McDonald's on every major intersection in Hutchinson and there are 4 McDonald's for a population of 39, 038 people!!!!
I cannot imagine a fatter town than Hutch. There are more restaurants than churches and gas stations combined!
We have no walking parks, no health food stores, no positive reinforcement by state officials and only 1 health club and it charges over $3,000 a year to be a member.
Basically this is the way it goes on our local news.
~
Tonight on Kansas news......
Obesity is taking hold of Kansas, and in other news, Krispy Kreme is moving to Hutchinson, Kansas next Month, there will be a parade followed by an all you can eat donut display located at the Hutchinson Mall 3456 fattbury way......
~
There is no way I can ever see reform in our local towns unless someone stops this FOOD INSANITY!!!!
10 comments:
Brandi,
That is so sad. I really believe good nutrition and exercise habits start at home. If parents eat healthy food and exercise the children are more likely to do the same. We know one health consciuos couple that have a four year old that loves Indian and Thai food and is very active. But he is the exception. The majority of the children I see are at minimum overweight and many obese.
I have believed for a long time that the nutrition education is schools is inadequate. But parents can made a huge difference by changing their own habits.
I know it isn't easy to change, but ... if the alternative is early death (or a miserable unhealthy life) why wouldn't everyone want to help themselves? Just my two cents. ;-) I personally know how hard it was for us to change, but it can be done and the results are worth it!
hugs,
Ali
Wow, those are shocking figures. Unfortunately, in our schools and in many homes unhealthy food is treated as a reward. I know at my son's school, junk food is given as a reward for good behavior on a regular basis. And after a long day at work many parents take their kids out for high fat, high calorie meals and then home to veg out in front of the t.v.
There is so much that needs changing, from food choices to activity levels. It is frustrating.
Alicia, It is shocking to me to see parents put Dr.Pepper in baby bottles, feed their two year olds Mc. Donalds french fries and think that just because they pack a lunch for their children they are creating a healhty lifestyle. What goes into the packed lunches are sometimes worse than school lunches...Juice drinks(sugar) Fruit roll ups (sugar) Lunchables (fat, sugar, high processed carbs, more sugar) and then a cupcake or cookies, is enough to drive me bonkers. When I pack Kaiti a lunch it is perfectly combined to ensure maximum health benefits.. The problem with packing my child a lunch goes one of two ways. Either her friends consime her lunch or teachers tell her I am not feeding her enough. Kait is slightly chunky and she does not need teachers telling her or sending me notes home saying I am underfeeding her...That is absurd!!! It is disturbing when french fries are considered a vegetable and 2 cups count as a healthy serving and you must eat them at schools and the salad bar is optional....
Janet- If every parent were given a class upon conception about health and wellness of raising a child there could be a dramatic fall in unhealthy habits, in my opinion.
I still feel that if there were commercials showing children that are severly obese trying to walk up a flight of stairs or being singled out by their peers and taunted, people would make a change. As a society we treat obesity as our own dirty little secret. Do you know children as young as 2 years old have been diagnosed with diabetes!!! 2 years old...
This is my own person soap box topic of choice...It ticks me off to no end. Have you seen Jaime Oliver's Food revolution? He was attacked constantly by obese hippocritical people at every turn. He didn't even take away their meat! Do I think it made a difference? Not in the least.. People do not want to change their diet, they would rather get a gastric bypass and go on eating the same crap day after day!!!
Pathetic!
Brandi,
I feel your pain! I am always
saddened by overweight children. :(
It pains me much more than seeing the adults.
The comment about Dr.Pepper in baby bottles, aaahhhh! I know!
Also sweet tea, and koolaid. It is heartbreaking.
I think when Mom's, and Dad's both went to work, the families health went out the window. Both parents are tired, and neither want the responsibility to cook a meal. So they grab take out on the way home.
When I worked, the girl in my office phoned her husband everyday to ask what she should pick up for dinner. The conversation always started with;
"What are you in the mood to eat tonight?" She would volley back and forth with him for about 5 minutes. The conclusion was always fast food, be it fried chicken, burgers, taco bell, subway etc.... Me, I was always headed home to cook. Unfortunately, I did cook with meat, milk, and the like. Yet, I didn't know then, what I know now. My children are grown, and they prepare their childhood favorite meals. :( I will say I tried to cook my meals based on the American Heart Association.
Whatever that is worth. :(
This is so sad. I do fight obesity in my own ways but we as a country have a ways to go. I hear it is now starting to spread overseas as well. What happened to good old-fashioned playing outside in the yard, instead of playing video games?
The one solution I can think of is to teach our children how to cook healthy. You know what? Some parents need to be taught that as well. Because they do not know how to cook (or cook healthy) many pick-up their meals from fast-food joints. I guess it could sometimes be a matter of convenience as well. The amount of fat in these foods in horrifying.
I am trying to teach my child how to eat healthy and to cook. It is not easy but I am working on it.
Peace :)
Hey! I lived in Kansas for a few years - I was in Wichita from about 1996 to 1998 and 1999 to 2001.
And YES. I was a chubby kid and the sight of overweight children makes me so sad and upset!
I just stumbled across your blog when looking for other E2L blogs to add to my blogroll. I'm sorry you're having problems with E2L - I've had my own issues with it and 100% compliance, with an emphasis on the greens and dark veggies is what helped me. Push through the detox stage, it is UGLY and UNFORGIVING, but you will be rewarded!!!
On a related note, I'm originally from McPherson, and my hubbie is from Hutch. He had to travel back to Hutch for a business trip and when he went out at night, he was shocked at the size of everyone. We don't remember so much obesity growing up in Kansas! So sad!!!
I'm sorry you're having problems with E2L. I did too, but upping the nutrient dense stuff like dark leafy greens, broccoli, etc really helped me. It's like you need to flood your body with nutrients to make the detox easier. The detox phase is UGLY and UNFORGIVING, but you will be rewarded if you push through!
On a related note, I'm from Mac and my hubbie is from Hutch (we live in CA now). He had to travel to Hutch for business and he was SHOCKED at how heavy everyone has gotten. We don't remember such rampant obesity from our childhood/early adulthood, but boy things have changed. So sad.
I'm sorry you're having problems with E2L. I did too, but upping the nutrient dense stuff like dark leafy greens, broccoli, etc really helped me. It's like you need to flood your body with nutrients to make the detox easier. The detox phase is UGLY and UNFORGIVING, but you will be rewarded if you push through!
On a related note, I'm from Mac and my hubbie is from Hutch (we live in CA now). He had to travel to Hutch for business and he was SHOCKED at how heavy everyone has gotten. We don't remember such rampant obesity from our childhood/early adulthood, but boy things have changed. So sad.
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