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Q&A with Todd Hollander
author of
We're Killing Our Kids:
How
to End the Epidemic of Overweight & Sedentary Children
What is your background?
I am not a diet or exercise guru but a market research
expert and concerned parent who has used my research
skills to diagnose and develop a solution to the problem
of childhood overweight. “We’re Killing Our Kids” is the
result not only of my extensive research but also the
experience of applying what I learned in my own family.
Why did you write the book?
To provide parents, grandparents, educators, and other
concerned adults the information, tools, and motivation
they need to help children develop a lifestyle of healthy
eating and physical fitness.
What's in the book?
We're Killing Our Kids includes:
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How to objectively assess a child’s weight
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10 leading causes of overweight children
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Physical, economic, and psychological consequences of
overweight and obesity
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Myths and facts about nutrition, exercise, and weight loss
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A proven process for helping children develop lifelong
habits of good nutrition
and physical fitness
What makes children obese? Genetics? Parenting?
As I point out in “We’re Killing Our Kids,” there are a
number of factors that have caused the epidemic of
overweight children, including:
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Changes in society: more driving/less walking; more
school/less play, etc.
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Technological innovations that have reduced
activity and increased access to high-calorie foods.
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Increased use of electronic media: TV, Video Games,
Internet, etc.
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Bad advice from the government: Food Guide Pyramid
(not only unlikely to produce weight loss but virtually
guarantees weight gain).
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Increased consumption of fast food and other meals
away from home.
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Poor nutrition in schools: National School Lunch
Program, Vending Machines, Fast Food at school.
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Lack of exercise at school (P.E.) and home.
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Increased consumption of added sugars: mainly
beverages, including sugar-sweetened soft drinks, sports
drinks, and fruit drinks.
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Parents: not by genetics but by providing poor
nutrition, inadequate physical activity, and poor example
(their own diet and exercise regimens).
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Coincidence: a major but often overlooked factor.
All of the aforementioned causes have converged to form a
“perfect storm” of overweight and obesity.
By what standards are children in America considered
overweight?
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Body Mass Index (BMI) is a simple calculation based
on weight and height. It is used to assess weight status
for both children and adults. The most recent BMI data
show that nearly one-third of American children and
adolescents are overweight, about half of these are obese,
and millions more are at risk.
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The American Academy of Pediatrics has stated that
“overweight is now the most common medical condition of
childhood.”
How can we/parents/schools prevent children from
becoming overweight?
Through a combination of education and action.
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Education. “We’re Killing Our Kids” provides
comprehensive information regarding:
Nutrition (Calories, Fat, Protein, Carbohydrates,
Balanced Diet, and Meal Planning at home and in
restaurants)
Exercise (Frequency, Intensity, Type, and Time)
Weight Loss (Myths and Facts)
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Action (See answer to “What can we do as a
society to protect our children from becoming obese
adolescents or obese adults?” below)
What percentage of children and adolescents are overweight?
Nearly one-third of American children and
adolescents are overweight, about half of these are obese,
and millions more are at risk.
What are the risk factors of an obese child?
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This generation is likely to be the first in
American history to have a shorter lifespan than the
preceding generation.
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Medical problems are common in obese children and
adolescents. The most common complications affect the
cardiovascular system (including high blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and high triglycerides) and the endocrine
system (including hyperinsulinism, insulin resistance,
impaired glucose tolerance, Type 2 diabetes, and menstrual
irregularity).
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Research has shown that among overweight 5-10
year-olds, 60 percent already have at least one
cardiovascular disease risk factor.
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Other problems associated with pediatric overweight
and obesity include pulmonary complications (including
asthma and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome), orthopedic
complications, and gastrointestinal/liver problems.
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Psychological problems associated with overweight
and obesity range from low self esteem to anxiety,
clinical depression, and impaired social functioning.
What can we do as a society to protect our children
from becoming obese adolescents or obese adults?
“We’re Killing Our Kids” offers a five-step solution,
including:
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Acknowledge the problem. Too many adults fail to
understand the extent or significance of this epidemic, or
their role in creating and perpetuating it.
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Accept responsibility. While there is undoubtedly a
role for the community in solving this problem, the
ultimate burden of responsibility falls on parents,
grandparents, educators, and other caregivers. We cannot
beat this epidemic by committee. Instead, we must cure it
one household at a time.
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Examine ourselves. Adults must set a proper example
with our own diet and exercise regimens. I call this “the
old physician heal thyself thing.”
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Reprioritize. Because it is literally a matter of
life and death, we must be willing to do whatever is
necessary to solve this problem.
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Develop a plan. The more we plan meals, snacks, and
exercise, the more we increase the likelihood of success
and decrease the time it will take to achieve results.
Do you think that healthier school lunch choices would
make a difference?
Definitely. Because the food in schools is so poor, the
most effective short-term solution is for kids to stop
buying lunch at school and start taking a nutritious lunch
from home. This does not mean that we should give up on
the possibility that the school lunch program can be
improved. To the contrary, we should dedicate ourselves to
ensuring that the school cafeteria is providing nutritious
meals. It is the right thing to do for the millions of
schoolchildren who depend on this program for no-cost or
reduced-cost lunches. However, we must accept that the
problems with school nutrition will not be corrected
overnight.
Are there exercise programs kids could do that would be
fun and help them lose weight?
Exercise is essential. Good health is achieved through a
combination of nutrition and regular exercise. These are
two sides of the same coin. It is imperative for every
member of the household to exercise every day. By setting
goals, tracking progress (I offer a downloadable exercise
diary at
www.worthypress.com/wkok/diary.htm), and including
activities that the whole family can do together (walking,
jogging, biking, etc.), losing weight or maintaining a
healthy weight can be fun and rewarding.
How can I contact you with additional questions?
email
wkok@worthypress.com
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