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Posted Sep 02, 2010 9:18 am (1 year ago)

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Public News Service-AZ

September 02, 2010

Fighting Childhood Obesity a Family Affair

PHOENIX, Ariz. - Nearly one in three - or more than 500,000 - Arizona children are overweight or obese, according to the Childhood Obesity Action Network. Nationwide, it's estimated that more than 23 million children and teens fall into that category.

All the more reason for the first-ever National Childhood Obesity Awareness month, kicking off this week. Phoenix cardiologist Suzanne Sorof says genetics are a major factor in obesity, but their effects can be overcome with diet and exercise.

For kids, she says parental support is crucial, "especially if they do things as a family - getting out there and exercising as a family and supporting them when they're playing sports so that they feel like they're behind them. It makes a huge difference."

Sorof, who heads the Phoenix metro board of directors of the American Heart Association, says contributing factors to obesity include a lack of activity and exercise, and eating too many fat- and sugar-filled foods instead of fruits and vegetables.

Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., is introducing federal legislation that would ban sugary snacks from school grounds at all hours. He also wants to stop junk food from getting onto school grounds for fundraising purposes.

"I don't mind an occasional bake sale myself, but what we're seeing is people selling Oreos to raise money. I don't want unhealthy foods competing with healthy school breakfasts and healthy school lunches."

Screen time is the single biggest lifestyle change that has contributed to the continuing increase in childhood obesity, Sorof says.

"Now kids are inside watching TV, sitting most of the day. All night long, a lot of their school work is on computer and they're not getting outside. TV and computers are playing a huge role in the epidemic we have of diabetes and obesity."

She says eating a well-balanced breakfast in the morning is important for weight control because it starts your metabolism, makes you feel more energetic and discourages stuffing yourself later in the day due to hunger.

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