The words obese and toddler should never even be in the same sentence, but in today’s society, that seems to be becoming the trend.

With more than 12.5 million children and adolescents in the U.S. deemed as obese, it’s becoming more and more of a problem. And the issue seems to no longer lie just in the age of those children  – which keeps getting younger – but also in the parents’ ability to assess their child’s individual health.

New studies are showing that it’s difficult for parents to know what a healthy weight is for their toddler-aged children. After all, baby fat is cute, right? Well maybe, but depending on how much of it there is.

A group of researchers in the Baltimore, Maryland, area gathered a group of 281 mothers from local clinics that served primarily low-income families. Seventy-one percent of the participants were African-American mothers. Researchers chose primarily low-income families because that demographic has a higher risk of becoming overweight or obese.

In the study, participants were shown a collection of toddler silhouettes in a range of sizes and weight, and were asked to pick which one best matched their own child. They were also asked which silhouette they most desired their child to resemble. Both mothers and children were also measured for weight and height.
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As Americans waist lines continue to expand, the number of obese people is rapidly rising. In fact, the latest projections on the subject of obesity show that as high as 42 percent of Americans will be obese by the year 2030. It is also projected that 11 percent of Americans will be severely (or morbidly) obese. All of this added weight will also contribute to billions of dollars in additional health care costs. As we know, when weight goes up, so do the chances for weight related diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, certain types of cancer, sleep apnea, headaches, migraines and several others.

About 36 percent of Americans were classified as obese in 2010 and six percent were severely obese. Individuals typically have to be 30 pounds over a healthy weight to be classified as obese, and being 100 pounds or more overweight is classified as severely obese. Something to keep in mind is that the 42 percent increase in obesity would be 32 million people in addition to the 78 million people that were accounted for as obese in 2010.
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MTV reality show star, Chelsea Settles will be making a guest appearance at one of the country’s premier weight loss camps for kids.

Settles will be taking her inspiring story to the New Image Camps at Pocono Trails in Reeders, PA. This Saturday, May 12, 2012, Settles will meet with parents and campers and discuss the subjects she’ll be teaching as she herself attends the camp this summer season. Settles plans to teach classes in grooming, poise, and charm.

Camp founder and director Tony Sparber has invited Settles to be a part of his camp. Sparber has spent his career providing safe and healthy environments where campers can learn all about proper diet and exercise habits while losing weight. He hates the term “fat camp,” however he has been given the title, “The King of Fat Camp.” He allows this title as it speaks truth to his vision as a pioneer in the weight loss camp industry. Settles will join Sparber this weekend at the Pocono Trails open house, where the children will surely be inspired and probably a little excited to be on MTV.
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Applebee’s, the world’s largest casual dining chain, just announced good news. The restaurant will be joining Kids LiveWell, a great program that helps parents and children make more healthful choices when eating out at a restaurant.

The company has received the Kid LiveWell endorsement on their children’s grilled chicken sandwich with steamed broccoli and 1 percent milk or apple juice. The side options can also include orange juice or a side of applesauce.

Menu items can get a Kids LiveWell endorsement if they meet the nutritional criteria, which were created from the standards set by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The Kids LiveWell program was created by the National Restaurant Association and Healthy Dining.
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Before you pick up that Red Bull, consider what it may do to your teeth first.

A new study published in General Dentistry showed that energy drinks can damage the enamel of your teeth, and possibly with irreversible effects as enamel doesn’t return once it’s gone. And it’s the citric acid  – most commonly found in citrus fruit juices – that’s doing most of the damage.

Citric acid is used in products like energy drinks to add a tart bite, and also to lengthen shelf life as it acts as a natural preservative.

The study was prompted by the statistic that an estimated 30-50% of teenagers are drinking energy drinks on a regular basis, meaning the primary concern is with kids. The most alarming part about damage done to tooth enamel is that it leaves the teeth prone to cavities and decay.

Lead author in the study, Poonam Jain, is an associate professor in the School of Dental Medicine at Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville. Concerning the health risks sugar alone can pose, she said, “We are well aware of the damage that sugar does in the mouth and in the whole body – the role it can play in obesity, diabetes, etc. But the average consumer is not very well aware that acid does all kinds of damage, too.”
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