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April 13, 2006
As I was unbuckling my 2 1/2-year-old’s car seat, I turned to see a mother and child going past our driveway. The mother was walking, while the child was driving a shiny, little motorized vehicle. The child looked about 4 years old. My daughter’s eyes widened when she saw the child-size Jeep. It was about the size of a riding lawn mower and probably nearly as expensive. My daughter looked up at me a little hopefully. I think she was about to say, “I want that!” but I shook my head before she could utter a word. She made a face and walked to our front door. What child wouldn’t want a “cool” car to drive around? I did when I was young. I drove my brother’s hand-me-down “hot rod” pedal car up and down the sidewalks near our home. My car didn’t
run on batteries. That’s a good thing. As we’ve all heard, childhood obesity is an issue of concern in the U.S. Since the 1970s, the rate of childhood obesity has doubled among preschoolers and adolescents and has tripled among children ages 6 through 11. Overweight children are being diagnosed with “adult” diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. Overweight children as young as ages 3 or 4 are showing signs of high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Researchers also are concerned that heart disease among teenagers will increase. One might think that children in cities get less physical activity than children in rural areas and therefore are heavier. After all, in most rural areas there are wide open spaces to run. In 2002, North Dakota public health nutritionists and nurses measured the height and weight of 827 North Dakota sixth-grade students living in rural and urban areas. They used the information to determine “body mass index.” The “overweight” designation was based on a body mass index greater than or equal to the 95th percentile for age. Results showed that 19 percent of rural North Dakota students were overweight, compared with 12 percent of students living in urban areas. Overall, one in six sixth-grade students was overweight, and more boys (18 percent) were overweight than girls (14 percent). Research has shown
that about seven of 10 overweight adolescents will become overweight or
obese adults. Obesity that persists into adulthood is linked with chronic
diseases, such as diabetes, heart disease and certain types of cancer. Doing yard work, dancing, biking and golfing all count as moderate activity. With golf, however, it only counts as moderate activity if you carry your own clubs and leave the little motorized vehicle back at the club house. Here’s a tasty snack to enjoy before or after a brisk walk. Visit the NDSU Extension Service Web site at www.ag.ndsu.nodak.edu/food.htm for more information.
### Source:
Julie Garden-Robinson, (701) 231-7187, jgardenr@ndsuext.nodak.edu |
Market Advisor: |
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North Dakota State University |
