Health Alarm! Overweight Toddlers

One in five pre-school kids in the U.S. are overweight or obese, and more must be done to help prevent them packing on the pounds, says a report published on June 23 by the Institute of Medicine.

We’ve heard the statistics about one in three children being overweight or obese, but preschoolers?

Preschoolers Aren’t Getting Enough Exercise

This is depressing news, and perhaps even more alarming is the Institute’s suggestion that children between two and five need to get at least 15 minutes of physical activity for every hour they spend in childcare.

Don’t all kids naturally want to run around and explore? How sad if today’s toddlers need to sign up for exercise class in order to stay fit.

Youngest Children At Risk Of Obesity

Here’s how the report from the Institute of Medicine opens:

Even the youngest children in the United States are at risk of becoming obese. Today, almost 10 percent of infants and toddlers carry excess weight for their length, and slightly more than 20 percent of children between the ages of two and five are already overweight or obese. Because early obesity can track into adulthood, efforts to prevent obesity should begin long before a child enters school.

A few other pointers from this report:

* Kids don’t usually outgrow their baby fat, contrary to popular belief, and better food guidelines are needed to help parents.
* Parents and caregivers need to know just how much toddlers should eat as they move from baby food to bigger-kid fare.

Dietary Guidelines For Toddlers?

From The Daily Mail:

The nation’s dietary guidelines include a special section for pre-schoolers, including information that a portion size generally is about one tablespoon of each food type per year of age.

But overall, those national guidelines are aimed at ages two and older – though surveys show even very young children eat too few of the fruits and vegetables they need.

So the institute called on the government to create consumer-friendly dietary guidelines for birth to age two.

It also sounds like it is time for some parenting education. Diet and exercise are crucial for a healthy lifestyle for adults, but may be even more important for toddlers and preschoolers. And at that age, they will eat (or not eat) whatever is put in front of them.

Let’s start taking this issue seriously.

Photo Credit: iStock

quick poll

vote now!

Loading poll...

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

no!
leaning no
leaning yes
yes!

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Cathy P.

8:05AM PDT on Oct 3, 2011

Most children I see live on chicken "fingers" and french fries at best. Feed your children vegetables!

send a green star

jane r.

8:32AM PDT on Aug 31, 2011

NEED TO WORK ON THIS

Jennifer C.

7:18PM PDT on Aug 23, 2011

Great article. Interesting. Thanks.

KrassiAWAY B.

2:23PM PDT on Jul 8, 2011

It is the parents fault!

Rosie L.

3:48PM PDT on Jul 5, 2011

sad!

colleen p.

4:52AM PDT on Jul 5, 2011

are we talking about normal baby fat here, or a 3 year old that weighs 40 pounds. how much are "typcial ideal humans" supposed to weigh?
I think I was 60 something in highschool. and weigh between 85 and 95 depending on the season.(well 2 years ago, i'm 94 ATM)

so if someone says "my 7 year old is 50 pounds" I don't know if that is good or not.

Grace A.

4:51AM PDT on Jun 29, 2011

It might help to serve a raw green leafy salad with just a little dressing first and hope it takes the edge off appetites. More exercise would be good for all ages.

Nancy R.

4:27PM PDT on Jun 28, 2011

This is sickening and it should be considered child abuse because it is! I say take all those pieces of crap parents that do this to their child/ren, strap them to something and force feed them until they either explode or become overweight or obese!

Sheri P.

2:51PM PDT on Jun 28, 2011

SERIOUSLY? What a travesty that so many parents don't know how (or are not willing) to feed their children sensible food in reasonable portions and help their kids to be more active. It seems so common sense to me.

Randi L.

7:34AM PDT on Jun 28, 2011

Also recignize, that diets do not work, and cause children to obsess over weight and body image. Therefore it is up to you the parents to institute moderate change for all in the home, as you would not want to single out a child giving them a complex.

This is why the cookbook Love More Feed Less/A Tasty Path Toward Avoiding Childhood Obesity was written---to provide parents with support, ease, tips and hints and lots of affordable easy recipes for rasing healthy kids with flavor, kisses and lots of love. Yes there is even a chapter for the up and moving, rather than just exercising their thumbs playing video games. And yes tips are included for those who reside in inner city neighborhoods or far out rural neighborhoods too.

BTW: Don;t you know Love is the most pungent ingredient on earth----and it doesn't cost much more than a few hugs, kisses, tears and smiles with a bit of mutual respect tossed in for good measure!