# Presentation: 293265

## The Family Perspective“Being on the front lines” 

**Lisa Hark, PhD, RD**** **
**Director, Nutrition Education and Prevention Program**
**University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine**
**www.lisahark.com**

## Objectives/Questions 

- Why are more kids overweight now?
- What is the role of the family?
- What common themes did I encounter?
- What lessons did I learn?
- What are my hopes for the future?

## Media Attention

- Let’s use it!

## 

OK, SO THERE IS A PROBLEM! 
But why is this happening?

**	**
**OK, SO THERE IS A PROBLEM! **
***But why is this happening?***
** **

## Factors Contributing To Weight Gain

-      Calories

- TV, Video and Computer Game Time

- Sweetened
- Drinks/Snacks

-  Portion
- Sizes

-  Exercise,Gym, Recess

- Fruits and    Vegetables

- Fast Food
- Snack Food

- Low-fat milk

- Source: Lisa Hark, PhD, RD

## Calorie Balance Too HighWeight Gain Results

- Growing
- Developing
- Metabolizing
- Exercising

**Food Intake**

- Source: Lisa Hark, PhD, RD

## Media in the Bedroom

**Media in the Bedroom**

- Percent of 8-18 year-olds with each medium _in their bedroom_:

**Television**

**Internet access**

**VCR/DVD player**

**Video game console**

**68%**

**20%**

**49%**

**Cable/satellite TV**

**Computer**

**37%**

**31%**

**20%**

**54%**

**Premium cable channels**

**Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, *****Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds,***** March 2005: kff.org**

## 

What is the role 
(and responsibility)
of the family?

**What is the role **
**(and responsibility)**
**of the family?**

## Front Line Themes 

- Huge consumption of sweets, drinks, snacks.
- Kids eating what ever they wanted day and night.
- Many diets low in vitamins and minerals.
- Rotten teeth, poor sleep, lack of energy, HTN, pre-diabetes, excess weight, mood swings.
- Highly sedentary lifestyles
- TV and video games in most bedrooms
- Kids vegging out for hours and hours

## TV Rules: Parent’s Role Percent of all 8-18 year-olds who say they have:

**TV rules that are enforced “most” of time**

**26%**

**53%**

**20%**

**TV rules that are **_**enforced**_
** ****some, a little or never**

**No rules**
**about TV**

**Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, *****Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds,***** March 2005: kff.org**

## Household Media Environment Percent of 8-18 year-olds living in homes where: 

**TV is “usually” on during meals**

**63%**

**36%**

**TV not usually left on during meals**

**Source: Kaiser Family Foundation, *****Generation M: Media in the Lives of 8-18 Year-Olds,***** March 2005: kff.org**

## Lessons Learned

- Under reporting of TV and videogame use
- Children are running the household
- Parents want to take control but can’t
- Healthy lifestyle is a low priority when busy

## 

So what can we do?

**So what can we do?**

## A Public Health Framework to Prevent and Control Overweight and Obesity

**A Public Health Framework to Prevent ****and Control Overweight and Obesity**

**Energy Intake**

**Energy Expenditure**

**Energy Balance**

**Prevention of Overweight and Obesity Among Children, Adolescents, and Adults**

-         **Note:  Adapted from *****“Preventing Childhood Obesity.”*****  Institute of Medicine, 2005.**

**Individual Factors**

**Behavioral Settings**

**Social Norms and Values**

**Home and Family**
**School**
**Community**
**Work Site**
**Healthcare**

**Genetics**
**Psychosocial**
**Other Personal Factors**

**Food and Beverage**** ****Industry**
**Agriculture**
**Education**
**Media**
**Government**
**Public Health Systems**
**Healthcare Industry**
**Business and Workers**
**Land Use and Transportation**
**Leisure and Recreation**
**Community- and Faith-based Organizations**
**Foundations and Other Funders**

**Food and ****Beverage Intake**

**Physical ****Activity**

**Sectors of Influence**

## Family

**Community**

**Public Policy**

**Organizations**

**Family**

**Individual**

**Addressing ****the Problem*****  ***

## Creative packaging on healthy foods

**Creative packaging on healthy foods**

## Character licensing primarily on healthy foods

- Character licensing primarily on _healthy_ foods

## My Hope for the Future

- Parents prioritize & discipline better-starting early.
- Food industry creates more healthy foods for kids.
- Advertising unhealthy foods to kids is _prohibited_.
- Recess everyday and gym at least 1 x per week is mandated in _**ALL**_ U.S. schools.
- TV shows increase coverage of healthy lifestyles.