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Type 2:
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In just the past 30 years, the percentage of children and
teens who are overweight
has more than doubled. A University of Georgia scientist said
many overweight
children are among a growing group with type 2 diabetes.
“That’s an unusual type of diabetes for children to have,”
said Janine Freeman,
an Extension Service nutrition specialist with the UGA College
of Family and
Consumer Sciences. “Type 2 is usually associated with
overweight adults.”
Type 2 diabetes can be managed by healthy eating and regular
physical activity,
Freeman said. But it may require medication. Insulin treatment
is used if other
changes don’t bring the diabetes under control.
More overweight
kids
Most of the increase in overweight children has been since
the late 1970s.
It coincides with the rise of video and computer games and
other computer uses.
Freeman said children spend an average of almost three and a
half hours every
day watching television. “Television viewing plays a major
role in how much
— or how little — activity children get,” she said.
That lack of physical activity is one of many reasons more
children and teens
are overweight.
Another big reason is poor eating habits. More than 84
percent of children
and teens eat too much fat. More than 91 percent eat too much
saturated fat.
Almost one-third of all children and teens eat less than one
serving per day
of a nonfried vegetable.
“Since obesity is a big diabetes factor, we need to try to
influence what children
eat and how much activity they get,” Freeman said. “We know
that in this age
group, it’s sometimes hard to get children to do what’s best
for their health.”
She said studies show minority children have a much higher
risk of the disease
than Caucasian children. Though scientists don’t know why,
they believe it’s
partly because resistance to insulin varies among races at
different levels
of obesity.
Advice for
prevention
But regardless of race, Freeman said staying healthy and
within healthy weight
ranges can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in children. To
help, she offers
this advice.
- Set a good example. Children look to their parents
and adults close
to them for examples in eating and physical activity habits.
If you want the
kids close to you to make healthy choices, you must
also. - Increase the entire family’s activity level.
- Limit television or computer time. Set an hour
of play time
for every half-hour in front of the TV, computer or
video game set. - Make sure outdoor play equipment is handy and
safe. Keep all
kinds of balls, safe bicycles or other sports gear
ready. - Notice which activities kids enjoy and encourage
them to do them
more. Try to find community activities or leagues
where they can play
with others. Playing with friends can also help build
social and leadership
skills. - Play with them. Start family or neighborhood
ball games. Go
walking or biking together. “Children tend to be like
their parents,”
Freeman said. “Getting them to be more active may mean
you need to be
more active.”
- Limit television or computer time. Set an hour
- Make sure everyone has a balanced diet.
- Skip the cookie, soft drink and chip aisles at the
grocery store.
Stock up on more healthful alternatives like fresh
fruits and vegetables.
Though fruit drinks are full of vitamins, they pack a
lot of sugar and
calories. - Eat at home more. Freeman said it’s hard to
avoid high-fat food
if you eat at fast-food restaurants often. Serve lean
meats and lots of
fresh vegetables. Try to limit high-fat cooking, too.
- Skip the cookie, soft drink and chip aisles at the
“If we can influence our children’s behavior, we can reduce
the chance they’ll
get type 2 diabetes,” Freeman said. “We owe it to our children
to do our part.”
More
information
You can find more on diabetes from these Web sites:
