Food is a huge aspect of weight but it’s not just about what children eat

Childhood Obesity

Dr. Jennie Berkovich

Childhood obesity has gained attention over the last few years. The numbers are staggering, affecting close to 20 percent of children and adolescents. When discussing this sensitive issue, being supportive and using a very careful approach is critical to avoid shaming or chas v’shalom causing our kids to develop a dysfunctional relationship with food and their bodies.

Food is a huge aspect of weight but it’s not just about what children eat. It’s much more complex than that. Obesity is influenced by a range of factors — genetics, environment, access to healthy food, safe places to exercise, and mental well-being. Additionally, obesity has far-reaching consequences for overall health, increasing the risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer later in life.

It’s important to focus on creating healthy, positive habits that encourage long-term well-being. Instead of emphasizing weight or numbers on a scale, the goal should be to help your child adopt sustainable lifestyle changes that can benefit the entire family. This can be especially challenging if your child is picky or your family has busy schedules. However, small, gradual changes often have the most lasting impact.

• Balanced Nutrition Encourage fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in daily meals. Minimize juice, soda, and nosh between meals.
• Physical Activity Aim for at least 60 minutes of movement a day.
• Family Time Involve your children in meal planning, shopping, and preparation. Creating a positive food environment makes a huge difference​.

Prevention remains the cornerstone of tackling childhood obesity. But what if a child needs more than lifestyle changes? For some children, medications may be appropriate. Metformin has long been used off-label for weight management. Orlistat and Phentermine have been used for decades in adolescents. Most recently, Liraglutide and Semaglutide were approved for children 12 and older.

These medications are not quick fixes but are meant to be part of a comprehensive weight management plan, often including diet, physical activity, and mental health support. All medications have side effects, so it’s important to implement shared decision-making between the family and care team when considering initiating them.

It’s easy to get caught up in numbers on a scale, but the focus should always be on overall health and the trend of growth. By removing shame, guilt, and judgment from our approach, we can help our children become the best and healthiest versions of themselves.

Dr. Jennie Berkovich is a board-certified pediatrician in Chicago and serves as the Director of Education for the Jewish Orthodox Women's Medical Association (JOWMA)

Big Impact

Zipora Schuck

I

recently heard someone talk about the time he was driving in a suburb of New York City notorious for traffic. This time, there weren’t any slowdowns. But then he saw a large box truck a few cars in front of him. The driver didn’t heed the signs to exit although his truck was too tall for the overpass, and promptly slammed into it and got wedged underneath. The traffic ground to a complete stop behind it. The driver of the car put it in park and lowered the windows, figuring he would be here for a while as the vehicle was extricated.

He overheard the following exchange when a police officer pulled up alongside the truck and began berating the driver. “What were you thinking?! Why did you drive a truck onto this parkway?! Didn’t you see the signs instructing trucks to exit?”

To which the truck driver responded, “I didn’t know I was so big.”

Isn’t that the case for anyone in a position of influence with children, be it a parent, relative, teacher, rebbi, or neighbor?

When we underestimate just how big we are to the children around us, we run into complications.

When we underestimate the significance of our behavior toward the children around us, we run into complications.

When we underestimate the impact of what we model to the children around us, we run into complications.

When we underestimate how valuable our relationship is to a child, we run into complications.

Let’s not get stuck. Don’t sell yourself short in your impact on a child.

Zipora Schuck MA. MS. is a NYS school psychologist and educational consultant for many schools in the NY/NJ area. She works with students, teachers, principals, and parents to help children be successful.

The Case for More Sleep

Abby Delouya

WE

are a busy people. There’s the constant cycle of holidays, plus regular life, and all the ups and downs it brings. We juggle jobs and caring for large families, and many of us fall into bed at night, exhausted, and waking up almost as depleted. We sometimes have little control over our nights or our schedules, but if we understood how important sleep was not only for our brains and bodies, but also for our relationships with our family, friends, and coworkers, maybe we’d tuck ourselves in earlier.

Sleep deprivation can impair judgment and limit our ability to process information. Tiredness weakens our resolve to take action and diminishes our self-control. It can cause us to stop investing in our relationships because we’re just too weary. The next time you’re debating whether to read one more chapter or to do that extra load of laundry, remember just how important sleep is to our functioning. Getting enough sleep is amazing because it is both an expression of self-love and nurturing to your relationships.

Abby Delouya RMFT-CCC, CPTT is a licensed marriage and family therapist in private practice, specializing in trauma and addiction. Abby is also the COO and Director of Intake of Ray of Hope.

(Originally featured in Family First, Issue 914)