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Americans Don't Recognize Childhood Obesity as a Problem

Aired June 05, 2003 - 13:21   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


MILES O'BRIEN, ANCHOR: For the past two decades, officials say obesity has been on the rise in the U.S. You don't need to read a research study on that one. You just have to drive around and walk around.
The number of overweight children is at an all-time high. And now a new study shows that parents and kids do not realize how big a problem this really is.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining us with details on a problem that should not be trivialized.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely not. Because not only does it affect the child's health when they're overweight as a child, but it will affect their health later on in life.

And childhood obesity has gone up 50 percent since 1991.

O'BRIEN: Wow.

COHEN: That is a huge increase in just 12 years.

Let's look at a result of this study. It was of 112 children.

The first finding is kind of the most shocking, that parents and children don't think childhood obesity is a problem. I don't know under what rock they've been living, but that's apparently what the respondents of this study thought.

And secondly, the children think that eating healthy has a negative connotation. It's something that mommy tells you you have to do.

And thirdly, parents and children think weight loss is more about food and not about exercise. And that's a big problem, because children are quite inactive these days. And weight loss experts who I've been speaking with say that for every one -- but they think especially for kids that really exercise is more the key and not so much food. It's hard to get kids to eat right. But you can get them to exercise perhaps a little bit more easily.

O'BRIEN: You know, it's very difficult to resist the temptation to park them in front of the TV and play the video game because we're all so busy.

COHEN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: I guess we've got to resist that temptation and really make an effort to get them outside, right?

COHEN: You have to resist that temptation, because parents really can be part of the solution. And let's take a look at what some of those solutions can be.

First of all, parents and children need to work together. In other words, don't tell your child they need to be more active, go on a walk with your child. Go on a 20-minute walk every day with your child. It can make a huge difference.

And the second one is related to that, which is set attainable goals. In other words, don't say to your child, "I want you to be the quarterback of the football team." Instead, say, "You know what? A 20-minute walk every day, let's try that, it's a whole lot easier."

And thirdly, consider self-esteem issues. Don't tell your child, "You're fat, you need to lose weight." Think about other ways to do it, because self-esteem can be a huge problem. You don't want to ruin that.

Now those goals I was just talking about are things that parents can do. Other experts will point to things that industry can do. For example, they can take some fat and calories out of those kid's meals. And also, builders could start making neighborhoods with sidewalks again. That would be useful.

O'BRIEN: Amen to both of those.

COHEN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: I mean, just try to find a place to get a quick bite for your child that isn't filled with fat, forget about it.

COHEN: It's very difficult.

O'BRIEN: How are these parents so deluded? Are they themselves dealing with their own weight issues and not seeing the problem?

COHEN: Well, some experts think that one of the reasons is that kids have gotten so much heavier that let's say your little Billy is heavy, but all his friends are heavy, too. And so you look around and your child looks like every other child. Well, all that means is that your child is overweight just like every other child. So you can understand that when parents look around and they see that their kid is like everybody else it doesn't seem like it's such a problem.

O'BRIEN: So, it's all relative? Watch out for that trick.

COHEN: It's very relative, absolutely.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's keep them healthy, parents. Because it is our responsibility. Boy, that's something to watch.

All right. Elizabeth Cohen, always a pleasure.

COHEN: Thanks, Miles. O'BRIEN: Thanks for dropping by, telling us about Generation XXXL. I like that. You might have started something right here, who knows?

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 5, 2003 - 13:21   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MILES O'BRIEN, ANCHOR: For the past two decades, officials say obesity has been on the rise in the U.S. You don't need to read a research study on that one. You just have to drive around and walk around.
The number of overweight children is at an all-time high. And now a new study shows that parents and kids do not realize how big a problem this really is.

CNN medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joining us with details on a problem that should not be trivialized.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely not. Because not only does it affect the child's health when they're overweight as a child, but it will affect their health later on in life.

And childhood obesity has gone up 50 percent since 1991.

O'BRIEN: Wow.

COHEN: That is a huge increase in just 12 years.

Let's look at a result of this study. It was of 112 children.

The first finding is kind of the most shocking, that parents and children don't think childhood obesity is a problem. I don't know under what rock they've been living, but that's apparently what the respondents of this study thought.

And secondly, the children think that eating healthy has a negative connotation. It's something that mommy tells you you have to do.

And thirdly, parents and children think weight loss is more about food and not about exercise. And that's a big problem, because children are quite inactive these days. And weight loss experts who I've been speaking with say that for every one -- but they think especially for kids that really exercise is more the key and not so much food. It's hard to get kids to eat right. But you can get them to exercise perhaps a little bit more easily.

O'BRIEN: You know, it's very difficult to resist the temptation to park them in front of the TV and play the video game because we're all so busy.

COHEN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: I guess we've got to resist that temptation and really make an effort to get them outside, right?

COHEN: You have to resist that temptation, because parents really can be part of the solution. And let's take a look at what some of those solutions can be.

First of all, parents and children need to work together. In other words, don't tell your child they need to be more active, go on a walk with your child. Go on a 20-minute walk every day with your child. It can make a huge difference.

And the second one is related to that, which is set attainable goals. In other words, don't say to your child, "I want you to be the quarterback of the football team." Instead, say, "You know what? A 20-minute walk every day, let's try that, it's a whole lot easier."

And thirdly, consider self-esteem issues. Don't tell your child, "You're fat, you need to lose weight." Think about other ways to do it, because self-esteem can be a huge problem. You don't want to ruin that.

Now those goals I was just talking about are things that parents can do. Other experts will point to things that industry can do. For example, they can take some fat and calories out of those kid's meals. And also, builders could start making neighborhoods with sidewalks again. That would be useful.

O'BRIEN: Amen to both of those.

COHEN: Absolutely.

O'BRIEN: I mean, just try to find a place to get a quick bite for your child that isn't filled with fat, forget about it.

COHEN: It's very difficult.

O'BRIEN: How are these parents so deluded? Are they themselves dealing with their own weight issues and not seeing the problem?

COHEN: Well, some experts think that one of the reasons is that kids have gotten so much heavier that let's say your little Billy is heavy, but all his friends are heavy, too. And so you look around and your child looks like every other child. Well, all that means is that your child is overweight just like every other child. So you can understand that when parents look around and they see that their kid is like everybody else it doesn't seem like it's such a problem.

O'BRIEN: So, it's all relative? Watch out for that trick.

COHEN: It's very relative, absolutely.

O'BRIEN: All right, let's keep them healthy, parents. Because it is our responsibility. Boy, that's something to watch.

All right. Elizabeth Cohen, always a pleasure.

COHEN: Thanks, Miles. O'BRIEN: Thanks for dropping by, telling us about Generation XXXL. I like that. You might have started something right here, who knows?

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com