By: Ayesha Seedat


In America, 25% of children are overweight, 11% of which are obese! Did you know that about 70% of obese adolescents grow up to be obese adults! According to the SA Medical Research Council, 17% of SA children between the ages of 1-9 years are overweight.

The combination of eating too much food or the wrong types of food and lack of physical activity are the leading causes of childhood obesity. It is a multi-factorial disorder, which is often associated with many other significant lifestyle diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea and certain cancers.

Parents and care-givers play a pivotal role in a child's life and therefore can influence what children eat daily. As children are still growing, we need to slow down the rate of weight gain but not growth. Healthy lunchboxes packed from home can positively influence a child's nutritional intake. A child also spends most of his/her day at school, and so their environment should be changed to a healthy one. The school tuck shop or canteen is a great way to start providing children with healthier food choices.

The Heart and Stroke Foundation SA, has a School Tuck Shop Programme designed to address the problem of unhealthy eating amongst school children. The main objective of the programme is to enable children to make healthier choices when faced with a range of options. To achieve this we strive to encourage school tuck shops to serve more nutritious snacks and meals. For more information about this programme, visit our website www.heartfoundation.co.za or email ayesha@heartfoundation.co.za.

Making physical activity a priority and encouraging good habits in children from an early age is important and can help them to develop the skills they need to continue being active throughout their lives. Children should be encouraged to get involved in sports and be generally more active during break times, weekends and school holidays. Children who are physically inactive are at an increased risk of becoming overweight or obese. They are also more prone to developing conditions like asthma, flat feet and joint pains due to their excess weight.

Ideas to support healthy lifestyles for children:

• The School tuck shop/canteen should provide healthy food choices.
  
• Establish a vegetable garden and get children involved in the planting and nurturing of fruit and vegetables. This will encourage learning about different fruit and vegetables.
  
• The school can look into developing a “school orientation package” which will provide and educate parents or caregivers around healthy eating and physical activities for kids.
  
• Nutrition articles can be included in the school newsletter with the aim of increasing knowledge and awareness around nutrition and physical activity issues.
  
• Kids should be encouraged to keep water bottles at their desk-enabling them to increase their water intake during the day.
  
• Eat breakfast daily! Studies reveal that children who skip breakfast are less attentive and lack concentration during classroom time and also tend to choose unhealthy food choices during meal times.
  
• A healthy lunchbox should consist of a whole wheat/ whole grain starch with a lean protein filling and a fruit or veg. Drinks should consist of water, a fruit juice or a low fat drinking yoghurt.
  
• Choose healthier snacks. Examples include: reduced fat cheese slices on whole wheat crackers, low fat custard and fruit, baked beans on toast, rice cakes, low fat home-made popcorn, bran or fruit muffins, fresh or dried fruit and low fat yoghurt.
  
• Try creative ideas to help increase consumption of fruit and veg by preparing it differently and varying the texture. Instead of always steaming, rather bake, grill, mash, microwave or even blend into soups or a pasta sauce.
  
• Limit TV time to less than two hours per day and get more active! Children should aim for at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily. It does not have to be done all at once, but throughout the day.
  
• Parents or caregivers should be active role models and should have a positive attitude to being active. If children see you enjoying physical activity, they will be more likely to participate as well.

Remember, balance an active lifestyle for your child with a healthy diet - by limiting foods that are high in saturated fat, sugar and salt. Teach children healthy eating habits that will last their entire lifetime!

For more details and nutritional advice from registered dieticians, contact the Heart Mark Diet Line on 0860 223 222 during office hours, or visit www.heartfoundation.co.za.

Visit our PRESS OFFICE: Established in 1980, the Heart Foundation recently amalgamated with the Stroke Foundation, becoming the Heart and Stroke Foundation South Africa (HSFSA)- more....

[10 Oct 2008 15:38]

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