Queen of the Valley seeks support in fight against childhood obesity

KEVIN COURTNEY Napa Valley Register | Posted: Thursday, August 12, 2010 10:17 pm | (0) Comments

Font Size: Default font size larger font size Healthy Things Families can Do

• Promote healthy eating and physical activity for all familymembers.

• Avoid blaming a child for their weight.

• Have meals and snacks at regular times.

• Provide 60 minutes of physical activity and active playdaily.

• Limit daily TV and computer time to maximum of 30 minutes forchildren under 2, two hours for older children and teens.

• take TV out of children’s bedrooms.

• Limit sweet drinks and juice to one small glass daily. 

• Offer more fruits and vegetables at every meal and snack.

• Have family meals at least three times a week.

• Don’t bribe or punish with food.

• Limit fast food and dining out to once per week. Order achild-sized portion.

• Garden and cook with children.

Source: Children and Weight Coalition of Napa County

Upcoming Queen of the Valley Medical Center Foundation fundraiser

What: 33rd annual Day for the Queen

When: Friday,  August 20

Where: Silverado Resort & Spa

For tickets: call 707-257-4044

Visit: www.queensfoundation.org

America’s worsening statistics for childhood obesity are anational shame, but don’t blame the kids, speakers at a Queen ofthe Valley Medical Center forum said Thursday.

Instead of demonizing overweight kids, which only makes theproblem worse, this country needs to re-examine dysfunctionalaspects of today’s culture, health-care workers said.

In a nation where many parents are too busy to cook, fast foodis not just cheap but pervasive and few adults model the activelife that their children need, obesity is nearly inevitable, theysaid.

Marie Prosper of St. Joseph Health System said 4 percent ofchildren ages 6 to 11 were obese in 1971 compared to 20 percent in2008. if you count kids who are merely overweight, the currentfigure is 33 percent.

“We have become a supersized nation,” Prosper said. A standardserving of French fries had 

210 calories in 1950. Today’s typical serving has 610 calories,she said.

The public health aspect of obesity is frightening, said Rep.Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who chaired the forum. Obese childrenwill have high rates of Type 2 diabetes, depression and lowself-esteem, leading to higher rates of heart disease, cancer andstroke as adults, he said.

The costs of obesity in California run into the billions ofdollars, Thompson said. if the state could turn the obesityepidemic around, the state might be able to balance its budget, hesaid.

Dr. Joseph Carrillo, a Napa pediatrician, recounted how a mombrought in her three young children for an annual check-up. Two ofthe kids were obese, with one showing early signs of diabetes. Oneof the boys carried a soft drink. Candy bars were visible in hisbackpack.

Advice from a doctor during a busy office visit isn’t nearlyenough to put this family on a path to better health, Carrillosaid. 

The mother worked long hours, leaving the kids alone afterschool. When he suggested that the kids go to parks or joinexercise groups, the mother said she didn’t trust having herchildren out of her sight.

Parents such as this one need added support from schools,neighbors and other community institutions, Carrillo said. 

Queen of the Valley is expanding a new program that promotesphysical fitness and better nutrition in children through physicaleducation classes in schools.

Five schools in the Napa Valley Unified School District withhigh percentages of low-income students participated in Healthy forLife last year, with six more coming aboard for 2010-11.

Using funds from the St. Joseph Health System Foundation, Queenof the Valley is providing each school with fitness equipment thatsupports high-impact aerobics and other activities.

The hospital’s Synergy fitness center supplies trainers twice amonth to lead activities. Nutritionists visit the schools twice ayear to share tips for healthy eating.

Instead of relying on traditional gym activities such asbasketball, soccer and wind sprints, Health for Life promotes kickboxing and Zumba, a fitness dance craze, said Tracy Bryars of St.Joseph Health System.

Kathy DeMaggio, manager of Healthy Moms and Babies at ClinicOle, said Health for Life’s first goal is “do no harm.” the programstrives to motivate healthy lifestyles in children withoutworsening the self-esteem of those who are overweight, shesaid.

Barbara Nemko, county superintendent of schools, said localschools have done a lot to remove junk food from vending machinesand improve school lunches. She applauded Queen of the Valley’ssupport of health programs in schools, but said more people need toget aboard.

Susan Carrington, who manages the program for Queen of theValley’s Community Outreach, said Healthy for Life was in fiveschools last year: Valley Oak alternative high school and fourmiddle schools: Silverado, River, Redwood and American Canyon.

This fall, the program is expanding to Napa, Vintage andAmerican Canyon high schools, Napa Junction and McPhersonelementary schools and Harvest Middle School.

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