We are all aware of the adverse health effects of obesity in both adults and children. However, particularly for children, the social ramifications are heartbreaking.
A recent study conducted by Ian Janssen, a researcher at Queens University in Kingston, Ontario involved 5749 children and was published in the May 2004 issue of Pediatrics. Janssen states that obesity rates in Canadian children tripled from the 1980's to the 1990's and continue to go up.
Among normal weight children between the ages of 11 and 16, 11% said they were the victims of bullying, as compared to 14% of the overweight kids and 19% of the obese kids.
8% of normal weight kids were perpetrators of bullying, as compared to 11% of overweight kids and 9% of obese kids.
Obese children were more than two thirds more likely to experience "relational" bullying; for example, being deliberately left out of social activities.
It is a well-known fact that adolescents rely on peers for social support, identity and self-esteem. The researchers stated that one consequence of being obese as a child may be hindered social development. And, they stated that social isolation may cause children to eat even more.
Janssen stated that the study emphasized the importance of engaging teachers and schools in educating children about proper nutrition and dealing with the obesity issues of children.
I have had many educators and school personnel tell me that this is not the school's responsibility. However, much of the behavior I have just described happens at school. And, the school is often providing some of the food that is creating the problem, making it absolutely the school's responsibility to do something about it. We will continue to look for forward-thinking educators who are interested in helping kids learn a better model for eating and working toward change in the offerings in the school.
However, in the interim, it is imperative that parents become proactive in changing their children's diets and health status, since the consequences of not doing so are so detrimental, both in the short and long term.
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