As moms and dads, it's perfectly natural to want to see your kids in the best — and absolutely healthiest — light. The common rose-colored glasses of parenthood can make even the most apparent of problems seem nonexistent or like no big deal.

That's definitely what researchers recently found when they conducted a national survey of 2,000-plus adults. In fact, many parents had no idea — or weren't at all worried — that their kids were considered obese (based on their body mass index, or BMI, which estimates a person's body fat using height and weight measurements).

According to the poll:

• More than 40% of parents with 6- to 11-year-olds who were obese thought their kids were "about the right weight."
• Not even 10% of the parents of those obese children reported being "very concerned" about their kid's weight.
• Only a little more than a quarter of parents with obese children ages 6–17 were "very concerned" about their child's weight, though nearly 85% of these parents said it's "very important" for doctors to discuss weight concerns with adolescents at regular checkups.

Weighing in on Weight

Being overweight or obese is a serious and all too common medical problem for millions of kids these days. In fact, three times as many 6- to 17-year-olds are overweight now than 30 years ago. And the epidemic of alarming proportions is only getting worse — some researchers project that nearly half of the kids in North America will weigh too much by 2010.

Carrying around too many pounds isn't just a matter of how children look. Kids and teens who weigh too much are also at risk for a wide range of physical, emotional, and psychological health issues that aren't as obvious to the naked eye:

• type 2 diabetes
• high blood pressure
• high cholesterol
• asthma
• bone and joint problems
• difficulty sleeping
• early puberty
• unhealthy dieting habits and eating disorders (like anorexia nervosa and bulimia)
• low self-esteem (often from being teased, bullied, or rejected by peers)
• depression
• substance abuse
• suicidal thoughts

When all of that excess childhood weight carries into adulthood, the serious — even deadly — risks can include strokes, heart disease, and heart failure.

What This Means to You

It's important to seek medical advice if you think your child might be overweight or obese — just as you would if you suspected your child had any other medical condition. If your doctor says your child's weight is an issue, you can help make maintaining a healthy lifestyle a positive experience instead of a stressful, all-consuming race to trim unwanted pounds.

Here are a few things families can do right now to help kids and teens — of all shapes and sizes — feel good about themselves on the inside as well as the outside:

• Incorporate exercise into the everyday. Encourage trying a wide variety of sports and activities.
• Eat meals together as often as possible — and without TV as an added guest!
• Limit TV, computer, and video game time to no more than 2 hours each day (and none for kids under 2).
• Stock and serve a variety of healthy foods and keep those with added fat and sugar to a minimum.
• Avoid using food as a reward for good behavior or trying to stop bad behavior with treats.
• Ditch the clean-plate club. To reinforce the idea of eating only when hungry, let kids stop eating when they're full, even if there's food left on the plate.
• Be a role model of healthy self-esteem. Avoiding criticizing yourself or complaining about how you look — especially when it comes to your weight. Show that you like yourself for who you are, even if (like most people) you think there's room for improvement.
• Never tease, belittle, or make negative comments about kids' shortcomings or mistakes. Instead, offer praise and encouragement about not only their achievements, but also their positive attributes and their efforts.
• Promote a can-do attitude. Encourage kids' strengths and help them work on (but never emphasize) their weaknesses. Help them find something — a hobby, a mentoring program, a job — they can succeed in and be proud of.
• Let your kids know that you will always unconditionally love, accept, support, and believe in them for exactly who they are — no matter what their weight.

If you're worried that your child might be overweight or obese, the sooner you make an appointment with your doctor, the better. Ignoring a potential problem won't do your child any good.

Ask about your child's most recent BMI, which doctors usually start calculating at regular checkups from 2 years old on up. Some physicians may even be hesitant to bring up weight concerns for fear of offending parents — and their kids. But don't be afraid to act as your child's best health advocate by starting the discussion yourself.

Getting medical advice about your child's weight doesn't mean you think any less of your offspring. Though you may instinctively want to shield your child from hurt feelings, talking to a doctor about your concerns shows just how much you really care.

Reviewed by: Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: January 2008

Source: C.S. Mott Children's Hospital National Poll on Children's Health, University of Michigan Department of Pediatrics and Communicable Diseases and the University of Michigan Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit; December 10, 2007.