Children's Expert: National Childhood Obesity Efforts Missing Key Element
Posted by: PNNOnline on Friday, June 2, 2006
Topic Human Services
In a thought-provoking and paradigm- changing essay published by The Foundation Center's prestigious Philanthropy News Digest, C.T. O'Donnell II, the leader of the national children's crisis charity KidsPeace, recasts the national debate on the number-one health threat facing the nation's youngsters today -- childhood obesity.
O'Donnell argues in the current issue that while America has been shining admirable amounts of light on the physical side of the obesity equation (diet and exercise), startlingly little or no attention is being paid to the underlying emotional roots of the problem, without which we as a nation will never win this battle.
While there is little doubt that the usually fingered suspects (changing eating habits, increased availability of food, and sedentary activities like watching TV and playing computer games) all have a hand in the problem, it's increasingly starting to look as if we're not seeing the whole picture.
"A bona fide public health mystery is shaping up," says O'Donnell. "One whose solution may come from a perhaps unexpected quarter ... one not traditionally focused on kids' nutrition or physical health."
Despite a flood of good intentions, public awareness messages, diets, and advice, our kids are getting bigger and bigger. "Could a rising tide of stressors on children be the 'missing half' of the obesity equation?" asks O'Donnell.
The author points to a rising tide of statistical evidence and reports from the mental health field of increasing emotional stresses on kids, which can lead to comfort eating and other eating disorders, and calls for increased funding of studies and problem-solving tools for kids that may lead to a more balanced and complete national obesity prevention strategy.
"The truth is: It's not only what our kids are eating ... sometimes it what's eating our kids," writes O'Donnell.
This new take on the nation's greatest health challenge may be read online.
KidsPeace is a 124-year-old national children's crisis charity dedicated to giving help, hope and healing to kids facing traumas, depression, eating disorders and the stresses of modern life. Founded in 1882 in Bethlehem, Pa., KidsPeace helps more than 3,000 children a day at 50+ centers nationally and millions more through public education and outreach with the support of its National Spokesperson Leeza Gibbons, national safety and self-esteem icon RETRO BILL and other notables. KidsPeace was called "the outstanding organization" of its kind by the American Association of Psychiatric Services for Children and "a prototype of what we need for all children everywhere" by the late great family expert Dr. Lee Salk.
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