Black Children Lead Nation in Obesity

By Hayat Mohamed, BlackVoices.com

Obesity has been declared a national epidemic in America. What was once considered an issue among adults has sadly transcended to our youth. African-Americans have the highest obesity rates (fat determined by a high Body Mass Index) in the nation and the same is true for our children.

According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys, one out of every six children is obese in America and blacks and Hispanics are at the greatest risk. Among Hispanics, boys are more likely to be obese than girls, while black girls are more likely to be obese than black boys. The U.S. Department of Health contends that an obese child has a 70% chance in becoming an obese adult.

Recently the National Institute of Health and the National Council of Negro Women teamed up in Maryland for a day-long training for children ages 11-13 along with their parents called We Can! The program's mission was to educate children and their parents about fast food media messages and improve their daily nutrition. Black Voices spoke with the President of the National Council of Negro Women, Dr. Dorothy Height, about the importance of nutritional awareness in the black community.

Why is obesity a problem in the US?

It's a problem because parents are not looking at the diets that they have for their children. Children eat a great many of these fast foods as well as a lot of fried foods. What we hope to do is to help them get a picture of the reality of what it adds up to. The media often has good advertising and makes people follow the advertising. We're trying to help, through our program, people to become media smart so that they will look to see what's included in whatever is being projected.

The College Survival Guide

A Fridge
Regardless of whether you have a wonderful sized meal plan, your fridge may come in handy with leftovers or when you feel like stocking it with bottled drinks.

Computer
The convenience of a computer is essential when sending your kids off to college. Forget the hike to the computer lab across campus students need a computer in the comfort of their room. A printer comes in handy as well. Depending on whether your child plans to carry his laptop around campus, you might opt for a desk top since they're lighter on the pockets.

Snacks
You will surely survive with off of a meal plan but it doesn't hurt to stock up on snacks when you don't feel like leaving your dorm room. Bottled water, pop corn, cereal and Ramen noodles are all low budget snacks to stock up on. Just be weary of the freshman 15.

Things from home
Some college students suffer from homesickness the first year. It's best to surround yourself with things like photos of the family, pillows or even stuffed animals. Anything that reminds your child of home.

MP3 Player
With all the stress that comes from school and exams, sometimes it's nice to block out the chaos in your life and even your roommate with music. It's nearly impossible to find students walking to class who aren't jamming to tunes.

Budget
Students who enter college often come in at the ripening age of 18. A great time for credit cards. Parents beware, your child may end up ruining their credit at a young age

Alarm Clock
When you're in college you don't have the luxury of getting awaken by your parents. It's now your responsibility to get to class on time so alarm clocks are a must. But keep your roommate in mind. You shouldn't wake him up ever morning with a blow horn alarm.

Cleaning supplies
Now you don't necessarily need to bring in the rubber gloves, mop and gas mask but it doesn't hurt to bring along Clorox all purpose wipes for spills or dust. Vacuums and brooms come in handy too depending if you have a carpeted dorm.

Bedding
What most parents aren't aware of is that most college beds are twin sized but extra long and require special sheets. When shopping keep your eye open for sheets that clearly state 'extra long' or else your child may come up short.

Shower shoes
You really don't know what some people do in the shower these days. College showers are known to be creeping with germs so spare yourself the fungus and purchase flip flops for the shower. You'll thank us later!

What are some things you feel contribute to obesity among African-Americans?

Well we have soul food and many people eat that with a lot of grease and we're trying to help them understand that you can get good tasting food without those things that contribute to obesity. As children are growing up we have to learn that we set their taste when we give them things that have too much sugar and added ingredients and we have to learn how to deal with things that have low fats and low salt and so on. That's what I think this program will do.

Do you feel that obese children reflect their family?

Well I think it's something that we need to take on. This is a problem that affects our families and what we hope to do through this major campaign on child obesity is raise awareness because we feel that many parents unwillingly allow their children to eat things that are over and above what they should have and consume more than they need.

Is it a regional problem?

It's really nationwide and I think part of it is related to the levels of poverty as well. I think many people eat what they think they can buy. We want them to understand that they can use those same dollars or pennies to get something that is healthy.

How did the National Council of Negro Women team up with the National Institute of Health?

The national institute of health is training a group of leaders that come from 30 communities across the country. We will have clusters of groups who come to those sessions and they get trained for a day and go back to their community and work with parents and children. Even in our schools we have these vendor machines that often have things not good for children. So we're going to do an intensive campaign that not only helps us be aware but also awaken to how it is we can help children learn what to do and eat to have over all good health. We also want to encourage good exercise.

More on the WE CAN! Program: http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov

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