Edison examines obesity Forum discusses ways to control obesity epidemic: eat less, move more BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer EDISON - The expanding waistlines of Edison's youth became the topic of discussion during a forum on childhood obesity, which featured several speakers talking to parents about how best to control an expanding problem throughout the world. The forum was a joint effort between the township's Department of Health and Human Services and the South Asian Total Health Initiative. The forum was well attended and had a variety of refreshments available such as cheese and crackers and sliced pepperoni. The event also featured a raffle for various prizes such as gym memberships and iPods one might use while working out at a gym. The main speaker at the Nov. 29 event was Dr. Fred Jacobs, the state's commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Health and Human Services, who has taken a particular interest in the matter of fighting childhood obesity. To do so, he has been giving many presentations hoping to inform parents on what to do. Jacobs expressed genuine alarm and dismay at the rate at which people, especially children, were expanding. He noted that New Jersey alone spends $2.3 billion a year on obesity-related medical care at a time when the state already has enough fiscal problems. Adding to this is the fact that unhealthy people simply aren't as productive. Jacobs said that the obesity epidemic is as much an economic issue as it is about health. "It's more than just a bunch of kids being overweight. It threatens our ability to compete in a global economy," said Jacobs. Jacobs said that obesity, along with smoking, is the most preventable cause of death in the country. He said that obesity figures are determined by looking at body mass index (BMI), the relationship between someone's weight and height. A BMI higher than 25 is considered overweight, while a BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. Between 1980 and 2004, Jacobs said, the number of children ages 2 through 5 who are overweight has risen from 5 to 10.5 percent. In children ages 6 to 11, that number has increased from 6 to almost 20 percent. In ages 12 to 19, obesity rates have risen from 5 to 17 percent. He said that if trends continue, by 2010, half of all children will be overweight. The problem, he said, is easy to see: people are eating more and moving less. Driving this is lack of access to places to walk, as well as lack of desire to exercise. Also a factor, especially in urban areas, is lack of access to fresh produce, like in farmers markets. At particular risk for childhood obesity include those in low-income families, new immigrants, blacks and Latinos. The consequences to a childhood, no less a life, full of fattening indulgences and slothful indolence were then gone over in detail by Jacobs, including heart disease, asthma, sleep apnea (a condition where people periodically cease to breathe while asleep) a variety of cancers, and "this is the big one" - type 2 diabetes, the kind one acquires, rather than the kind one is born with. Early intervention, to Jacobs, is vital in this case, noting that overweight children tend to become obese adults and that by that stage, life patterns are already set, becoming much more difficult to treat. He made it a point, though, to say that treating excess weight as a failure of character has not been productive and therefore should not be made into a moral issue. "It is a bad thing to treat obesity as some sort of character disorder rather than a medical condition," said Jacobs. "Kids can be cruel." The solution, Jacobs admits, is "easier said than done" but centers around eating less and moving more. One way this can be accomplished, he said, is for municipal governments to incorporate places into their master plans where people can walk and to make sure police make these walking spots safe. He noted that children don't walk to school as much anymore because parents don't think it is safe and many times it is not safe. Health and nutrition education in schools is another important factor, and he said that districts must do their part. Additionally, parents must provide a better example and find more physical activities that they and their children will be able to do together. "If we do nothing, the current generation of young people may be the first to live shorter and sicker lives than their parents," said Jacobs. This urgency was repeated by John Grun, Edison Township health officer. "We're eating too much and not exercising enough," said Grun, who said he has struggled with weight since he was a child. "We are raising a generation of grossly fat children. And I can get away with saying that because I'm fat." He said that the township itself has been working to provide programs that help children and adults get more exercise and lose weight. Some include the "smart steps" pedometer walking program, the "food for health" nutritional education program, and the "healthy kids" program, which promotes nutrition and exercise at day-care centers and preschools. These are coordinated by the Edison Department of Health and Human Services. The township also has a variety of team sports and activities for seniors, such as line dancing and tai chi. Susan Cohen, the health services supervisor for the district, agreed that schools need to work to help control the obesity epidemic as well. "Anything that threatens the health and well-being of the children will [impair academic success]," Cohen said. The district, she said, tries to promote a healthy lifestyle, rather than focusing on weight alone. Gym classes at certain schools have started to offer weight training, and, in another, a walking club has formed. Meanwhile, there are classes in the high school devoted entirely to nutrition. Overall, people found the forum to be informative and useful. "I thought it was very informative. I'm glad Edison would do something like this, and I think it gets the word out for the epidemic out there," said Michael Adler, a physical education teacher from Edison. not safe. Health and nutrition education in schools is another important factor, and he said that districts must do their part. Additionally, parents must provide a better example and find more physical activities that they and their children will be able to do together. "If we do nothing, the current generation of young people may be the first to live shorter and sicker lives than their parents," said Jacobs. This urgency was repeated by John Grun, Edison Township health officer. "We're eating too much and not exercising enough," said Grun, who said he has struggled with weight since he was a child. "We are raising a generation of grossly fat children. And I can get away with saying that because I'm fat." He said that the township itself has been working to provide programs that help children and adults get more exercise and lose weight. Some include the "smart steps" pedometer walking program, the "food for health" nutritional education program, and the "healthy kids" program, which promotes nutrition and exercise at day-care centers and preschools. These are coordinated by the Edison Department of Health and Human Services. The township also has a variety of team sports and activities for seniors, such as line dancing and tai chi. Susan Cohen, the health services supervisor for the district, agreed that schools need to work to help control the obesity epidemic as well. "Anything that threatens the health and well-being of the children will [impair academic success]," Cohen said. The district, she said, tries to promote a healthy lifestyle, rather than focusing on weight alone. Gym classes at certain schools have started to offer weight training, and, in another, a walking club has formed. Meanwhile, there are classes in the high school devoted entirely to nutrition. Overall, people found the forum to be informative and useful. "I thought it was very informative. I'm glad Edison would do something like this, and I think it gets the word out for the epidemic out there," said Michael Adler, a physical education teacher from Edison.