Free physician lecture helps parents keep kids at healthy weight

The prevalence of obesity among children ages 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past 20 years, from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2006, according to the most recent figures available from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The rate among adolescents ages 12 to 19 more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent to 17.6 percent.

What can parents do to ensure their children don't become part of this troubling trend?

That's the question a group of family physicians with Banner Arizona Medical Clinic's Sunrise Terrace office will answer at a free seminar from 2-3 p.m. June 29 at the Sunrise Mountain Library, 21109 N. 98th Ave., in Peoria.

Drs. Troy Dowers, Paul Gawelko and John Sarmiento will share their recommended strategies to help families achieve and maintain a healthy weight and active lifestyle during a free lecture.

The focus of the seminar will be on children, but the discussion will cover the family as a whole.

Parents are invited to discuss healthy living through diet and exercise via an open forum where parents' individual questions guide the discussion through a variety of topics such as the do's and don'ts for healthy eating, Body Mass Index, growth charts, calories and maintaining healthy weight.

According to the CDC, obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure. In addition, children who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem. Obese young people are also more likely than children of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer and osteoarthritis. 

The seminar will include time for questions from attendees, as well as free refreshments.

Banner Arizona Medical Clinic is part of nonprofit Banner Health, the leading provider of health care services with 22 hospitals throughout the West. For information, visit www.BannerHealth.com, keyword Banner AMC.