Setting The Pace To Curb Obesity

By CAROLYN MATHER, RN, PhD/Running Journal/March 2010
I have recently been reflecting on the ever-increasing obesity numbers. I find it difficult to believe that with all of the advances in our modern world and modern medicine, our children may not have the life expectancy that we now have as adults. So many of our health problems are directly related to lifestyle and our society seems to be passing this on to our youngsters.

As runners, we are healthier in general than our sedentary counterparts, even though our dietary habits may not be the best. Perhaps it is time for us to begin the process of helping children (ours and those we interact with on a regular basis) to develop healthy eating habits that will stay with them throughout life. We may even help ourselves a bit in the process.

I recall that in my brief three-year stint as a middle school teacher in the late 70s, I was called upon to teach health to sixth graders. This was a mandatory course and one most of the students hated. I looked at the curriculum and knew why. Given that I had much more freedom in the late 70s as a teacher, I scrapped the county curriculum and created my own. I took a look at what I felt were the needs of my students and developed a nine-week course focusing on self-concept (liking yourself), sex education, and nutrition. I will skip the first two aspects and explain what I did for nutrition.

Even more than 30 years ago (and before I became a runner), I realized that my students were not eating properly. Most of them threw out their school lunch and bought sodas, candy bars, and chips for their lunch. Very few ate a decent breakfast even though we were in an upper middle class environment for the most part. I went for the basics but attempted to make it a fun lesson and a challenge.

One of their first tasks was to record everything they ate for a weekend, beginning Friday after school and ending Sunday when they went to bed. Those results were a horror story by themselves. Then we analyzed what they ate and what healthy nutrients they consumed. No my lovelies, ketchup is not a vegetable! I used the simplified food groups of dairy, meat, fruits, vegetables, and grains.

I must admit my students were appalled at their eating habits. Then I got them to start reading labels and they got yet another shock. Many told me that most of the stuff on the shelves in their pantries at home listed the main ingredient as sugar. I know I drove many parents crazy as my students worked to find more healthy eating options and redo their home kitchens. By the end of a year of teaching every sixth grader a bit about nutrition, vending sales were way down, more kids were bringing and eating their own lunches and some were taking a turn at preparing a healthy meal at home several times a week. I actually had many parents thanking me for bringing this aspect of their home life to their attention.

Now I realize this was back in the dark ages and perhaps kids today would not respond positively to this type of curriculum. But we need to start educating our children about the long-term effects of a diet of burgers and fries. As parents we need to teach them to make smarter choices. They need to learn about fat and sugar and how it affects not only their health but their moods and fitness. It is our challenge to figure out how to do it, but do it we must. I still do believe that children will make healthy choices if they have good information.

I have a daughter who has three happy and very healthy boys. Actually I think they are training to be gargantuan in size. The 16-year-old is 6'4" and the others are following. These boys have learned the value of healthy eating. They only have healthy snacks. Their refrigerator is filled with fresh vegetables and fruit. There are always leftovers from home cooked dinners. There are no cookies, candy, chips, or whatever in the house. Since it has always been this way there is no sense of not having something. They rarely eat fast food and they have home cooked meals for breakfast and dinner. They pack their school lunch. Now do not get me wrong. They get "treats" but they are reserved for special occasions. This is the way I raised their mom and I am proud to say she learned her lessons well. My girls never realized that you could buy cookies at the grocery until they entered elementary school.

Now that you think I must live in LaLa land I can give you a recent adult example. After years of struggling with weight problems, my husband discovered that with exercise and no junk food in the house, he can eat most anything he likes. He probably eats more food than he ever did before but it is healthy and nutritious. And despite the fact that he can no longer run, he maintains a reasonable weight.
We have to start somewhere to curb the alarming rate of obesity. Obviously kids and adults need to be more active. Computers and television certainly are not helping here nor is the decrease of physical education in our schools. But each of us must make an effort with those whom we can influence.

Having kids make a food diary can be a start. Teaching them the value of good nutrition is another key. Encouraging healthy snacks and providing alternatives to chips, candy, and other sweets is imperative. Teaching kids to read labels really may drive you crazy but it does help them get a different perspective on what they are eating. I truly believe that children are open to new ideas and are never even given a chance to have healthy alternatives.

I have discovered coaches and other teachers are great resources for helping kids learn what to eat. I am impressed how most cross-country coaches have gotten their runners off sodas. Now if we could only teach the value of water. They do try, but it is difficult.
Many running clubs have started youth running programs. This is certainly a place where we can start. Get kids active and then help them realize that healthy eating will contribute positively to their performance.

I am afraid there are no magic answers here but the problem is real and getting worse. As runners who advocate physical activity, we each need to do something no matter how small to attempt to influence healthy eating habits. If you have some suggestions for working on this problem, please feel free to e-mail me and I will put them together in another article. This is an area that we as runners can impact positively. Each of us must make an effort.

I realize that, like my battle with headsets while running, I am again battling the giant United States marketing machine. I can no more conquer I-Pods that I can McDonald's or Kellogg's but I can make an effort to change what I can. If I can influence a few lives then I have made a difference. Multiply that by many and we will see success. Just do it!