Napa Valley Register - 'Queen of the Valley seeks support in fight against childhood obesity'

America's worsening statistics for childhood obesity are a national shame, but don't blame the kids, speakers at a Queen of the Valley Medical Center forum said Thursday.

Instead of demonizing overweight kids, which only makes the problem worse, this country needs to re-examine dysfunctional aspects of today's culture, health-care workers said.

In a nation where many parents are too busy to cook, fast food is not just cheap but pervasive and few adults model the active life that their children need, obesity is nearly inevitable, they said.

Marie Prosper of St. Joseph Health System said 4 percent of children ages 6 to 11 were obese in 1971 compared to 20 percent in 2008. If you count kids who are merely overweight, the current figure is 33 percent.

“We have become a supersized nation,” Prosper said. A standard serving of French fries had 

210 calories in 1950. Today's typical serving has 610 calories, she said.

The public health aspect of obesity is frightening, said Rep. Mike Thompson, D-St. Helena, who chaired the forum. Obese children will have high rates of Type 2 diabetes, depression and low self-esteem, leading to higher rates of heart disease, cancer and stroke as adults, he said.

The costs of obesity in California run into the billions of dollars, Thompson said. If the state could turn the obesity epidemic around, the state might be able to balance its budget, he said.

Dr. Joseph Carrillo, a Napa pediatrician, recounted how a mom brought in her three young children for an annual check-up. Two of the kids were obese, with one showing early signs of diabetes. One of the boys carried a soft drink. Candy bars were visible in his backpack.

Advice from a doctor during a busy office visit isn't nearly enough to put this family on a path to better health, Carrillo said. 

The mother worked long hours, leaving the kids alone after school. When he suggested that the kids go to parks or join exercise groups, the mother said she didn't trust having her children out of her sight.

Parents such as this one need added support from schools, neighbors and other community institutions, Carrillo said. 

Queen of the Valley is expanding a new program that promotes physical fitness and better nutrition in children through physical education classes in schools.

Five schools in the Napa Valley Unified School District with high percentages of low-income students participated in Healthy for Life last year, with six more coming aboard for 2010-11.

Using funds from the St. Joseph Health System Foundation, Queen of the Valley is providing each school with fitness equipment that supports high-impact aerobics and other activities.

The hospital's Synergy fitness center supplies trainers twice a month to lead activities. Nutritionists visit the schools twice a year to share tips for healthy eating.

Instead of relying on traditional gym activities such as basketball, soccer and wind sprints, Health for Life promotes kick boxing and Zumba, a fitness dance craze, said Tracy Bryars of St. Joseph Health System.

Kathy DeMaggio, manager of Healthy Moms and Babies at Clinic Ole, said Health for Life's first goal is “do no harm.” The program strives to motivate healthy lifestyles in children without worsening the self-esteem of those who are overweight, she said.

Barbara Nemko, county superintendent of schools, said local schools have done a lot to remove junk food from vending machines and improve school lunches. She applauded Queen of the Valley's support of health programs in schools, but said more people need to get aboard.

Susan Carrington, who manages the program for Queen of the Valley's Community Outreach, said Healthy for Life was in five schools last year: Valley Oak alternative high school and four middle schools: Silverado, River, Redwood and American Canyon.

This fall, the program is expanding to Napa, Vintage and American Canyon high schools, Napa Junction and McPherson elementary schools and Harvest Middle School.