Ask a kid why he won't eat an orange, and he might complain that it's too sticky. Ask a parent why she picks up burgers and fries in a bag for dinner, and she's likely to say it's easier and cheaper than home cooking. Ask a doctor what these decisions can add up to, and the answer is two words: an epidemic.
Statistics show that there has been a 100 percent increase in the number of obese children over the last 10 to 15 years. Today, 22 percent of children are classified as overweight, and 11 percent are classified as obese. Why kids are getting fatter -- and are at greater risk for Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, gallbladder disease and other maladies -- and how to reverse the trend is an emerging subject for public health researchers.
A new study released by the California Research Bureau offers some clues. At the request of two state legislators, senior policy analyst Joel Cohen talked to more than 200 children ages 9 and 10 and their parents to determine what keeps kids from leading a healthy lifestyle, meaning one with plenty of physical activity and nutritious food.
Unlike quantitative studies, which are more scientific in methodology and rely on large numbers, Cohen's work used focus groups to glean a more personal, in-depth understanding of the issues, according to Peggy Agron, a nutrition program chief at the state Department of Health Services.
The participants, of diverse ethnic and racial backgrounds from Oakland, Los Angeles and Fresno, reported average family incomes of 150 percent of poverty, an economic group that has been shown to be at higher risk for childhood obesity.
A recent study of nearly 3,000 children published in the journal Pediatrics, said that kids with obese mothers, low family incomes and low cognitive stimulation had a significantly higher risk of becoming obese, independent of other demographic and socioeconomic factors. In the California Research Bureau study, it was that the number one issue was money.
Physical activity, for example, was limited for children whose parents can't afford to put their kids on sports teams or don't have time to shuttle their children to and from organized activities. Parents interviewed estimated that football costs $500 per season and gymnastics $275 per month. While schools have also reduced their emphasis on regular physical education classes and after-school athletic programs, both parents and children interviewed said they felt alienated by the high level of competition in organized sports activities. Many kids said they would prefer sitting on the sidelines or at home than look like a fool on the field.
Parents also cited unsafe neighborhoods as a barrier to physical activity for their youngsters. Kids used to play in parks, aimlessly ride bikes, play unsupervised pickup games and walk to and from school. In many urban areas today, parent are more apt to keep their kids indoors.
In one eastern San Diego community where a child was kidnapped and taken across the Mexican border, for example, parents said they require their children to stay within their view. That can contribute to more time in front of the television. The average American child watches 22 hours of television a week and by the time he or she graduates from high school will have spent the equivalent of three years in front of the TV.
While watching their favorite commercial programs, every hour kids are see advertisements for products that contain 2,500 calories -- the equivalent of three or four fast-food meals plus several servings of sugary cereal. Cost also was a factor in parents' food-purchasing decisions. Study participants declared fresh fruits and vegetables "not user friendly." The parents said they are too expensive to keep in the house all the time and can be hard to prepare. Fast food, on the other hand, tastes good, gets eaten and gives kids lots of choices.
For their part, the children interviewed said they hated soggy or sticky food or food that turns colors, like overripe fruit. When asked to describe their ideal cafeteria, many kids wanted a "food court" assortment of fast-food venues, some of which included ice cream and soda machines.
California Sen. Martha Escutia, one of two legislators who requested the study, believes schools have a big role to play in improving childhood nutrition. The Commerce Democrat, who admits that she is overweight and is a borderline diabetic, will introduced a bill last month that would set stricter nutrition standards for the state's schools, many of which offer fast food and soft drinks to their students.
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