Could Genes Play Bigger Role Than Lifestyle in Kids' Obesity?

What This Means to You

Whatever the main cause (or causes) behind the astounding number of youngsters carrying around too much weight, the problem is only getting worse — three times as many 6- to 17-year-olds are overweight now than 30 years ago. And some researchers even project that nearly half of the kids in North America will weigh too much by 2010.

Being overweight or obese can significantly affect kids' daily way of life, potentially causing serious physical and psychological problems today and in the future. Kids and teens carrying around excess pounds are often:

• prone to low self-esteem, depression, and suicidal thoughts
• teased, bullied, or rejected by peers (even as early as preschool)
• more likely to develop unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia
• at risk for serious health conditions once thought only to affect adults (like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol)

No matter what your child's weight, it's important to instill the fundamentals of eating right and exercising from the get-go. To help maintain a healthy lifestyle in your household:

• Encourage kids to be physically active every day and to try a variety of sports and activities.
• Restrict TV, computer, and video game time to no more than 2 hours of quality content each day (and none for kids under 2).
• Serve a variety of healthy foods and eat meals together as often as possible.
• Don't use food as a reward for good behavior or try to stop bad behavior with treats.
• Ditch the clean-plate club. When kids say they're full, let them stop eating, even if there's food left on the plate. This reinforces the idea of eating only when hungry.

And if you're worried your child may be overweight, the sooner you can make an appointment with your doctor, the better. Preventing or treating obesity in kids may reduce their risk of developing medical and emotional issues now, as well as serious conditions (like heart disease and stroke) down the road.

Source: "Evidence for a Strong Genetic Influence on Childhood Adiposity Despite the Force of the Obesogenic Environment," American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, February 2008.