Looking at Obesity in Children

Nearly one out of three children in the United States is overweight or obese. This doesn’t come as a surprise; we live in an era where we are rushing from one thing to the next. We reach for something quick and easy to eat in-between errands with little thought about nutrition.

We sit in front of screens for hours each day for both work and entertainment. And if we’re being honest, many of us don’t get the exercise we should. As adults we’re in control of our choices and understand there may be negative effects from them. Our children on the other hand, mirror our behavior and don’t fully understand how choices can impact their health and well-being.

In primary care, there is a large focus on preventative medicine—that is discussing ways to stay healthy to avoid medical complications before they happen. We vaccinate against future infections, talk about ways to stay safe in our everyday lives, and track our children’s progress with developmental milestones and school performance.

The true importance and potential rewards of preventative medicine are no more easily apparent than when applied against one of the fastest growing issues in Pediatrics, that of childhood obesity.