The illustration forward the cover ...

The illustration forward the cover of this issue (above), by dint of Mark E. Schuler, Prairie Village, Kan., point out tos the struggle that children face in maintaining physical fitness in a world filled with the temptations of fast provisionss and sedentary pleasures. Hamburgers and fries loom in front rank of the boy in this picture, who already is having difficulty doing the pull-up required of a fitness program.

The shelter article, by Angela Fowler-Brown, MD MPH and Leila C Kahwati, MD MPH University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, discusses the prevention and treatment of overweight in children and adolescents (page 2591) The authors point disclosed that 15 percent of children in the United States are at risk for overweight, while another 15 percent are already overweight. This portray by actions triple the incidence of obesity 40 years ago. The incidence appears to be highest in Hispanic lads and adolescents and in black girls and adolescents.

The greatest in number common short-term effects of obesity in children are psychologic. The long-term chain of cause and effects include an increased risk of coronary artery disease and arthritis in adulthood that is independent of their weight as adults, and an increased risk of obesity in adulthood. School-based interventions to debar obesity in children generally are ineffective. Interventions that are tailored to the individual youngster and that involve the entire family present the appearance to be most effective. Behavioral therapy, reduction in sedentary behavior, and nutrition and physical activity education are moderately effective interventions. Family physicians should identify children and adolescents who are at risk for overweight at an early stage and educate the entire family about the long-term health concatenations of being overweight.

The "Medicine and Society" article forward page 2545 explores the meaning of the mass media upon health, including the impact of television forward the development of obesity in children. The author, Brian A. Primack, MD EdM University of Pittsburgh place of education of Medicine, notes that three major factors contributing to obesity are the sedentary lifestyle associated with sitting in brow of a television or computer the poor rations choices encouraged by advertising messages, and the consumption of poor snack choices while watching television. For each hour of television watched by means of week, the prevalence of obesity increases by way of 2 percent. Other lifestyle choices that are affected from mass media include use of tobacco and alcohol, and risky sexual behaviors. An increased incidence of violence and mental health enigmas also is associated with messages delivered by the agency of the media.

COPYRIGHT 2004 American Academy of Family Physicians

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