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A Word to Parents: Watch What YOU Drink!
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Pia, 18 months, is in your office for a preventive medical checkup. As you enter, Pia is sipping from a bottled soft drink. “More,” Pia says when her mother puts it away. “Wait for lunch, ok?” the mother says. “Let’s say hi to the nice doctor now.” Pia nods. Upon examination, Pia’s weight-for-length (determined using World Health Organization growth charts) is in the 99th percentile, which places her in the overweight category. Pia’s mother says her daughter drinks milk every day but prefers the soft drinks that her family likes.
Children mimic family behavior. If other family members drink sugary beverages, children will want them, too. Model healthy behavior by drinking water and avoiding sugar-sweetened beverages while children are around.
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In Texas, overweight/obesity rates for children and youth are higher than national rates. Preventive medical checkups provide an opportunity to identify children at risk for overweight/obesity and to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity. The earlier children develop healthy habits, the more likely they are to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your observation of Pia and her mother can guide the way you address healthy habits for this family. Here are evidence-based messages you can convey to help prevent Pia from being overweight as she grows.
Test your substance savvy.
Determine whether these statements about adolescent substance use are true or false.
WHAT DO YOU KNOW?
Patient: Pia Romero Sex: Female Age: 18 months
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Have you ever been in a car driven by someone, including yourself, who was high or had been using alcohol or drugs?
C
Do you ever use alcohol or drugs to relax, feel better about yourself, or fit in?
R
A
Do you use alcohol or drugs while you are by yourself, alone?
F
Do you ever forget things you did while using alcohol or drugs?
Do your family members or friends ever tell you that you should cut down on your drinking or drug use?
T
Have you ever been in trouble while using alcohol or drugs?
Adopt best practices that can be used in primary care to assess, treat, and prevent overweight and obesity in children and adolescents.CREDIT HOURS: 1.5 CEVIEW
Breastfeeding
Apply culturally effective best practices to promote breastfeeding and learn how to educate mothers about the benefits of breastfeeding and provide ongoing support and guidance.CREDIT HOURS: 1.75 CEVIEW
Management of Overweight and Obesity in Children and Adolescents
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An 8-ounce lemonade
has more than 20 grams of sugar
Avoid all sugary drinks
Fruit drinks
Sports drinks
Energy drinks
Sweet tea
Soda
Involve children in choosing a healthy beverage.
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Families can help children create healthy beverage habits that can last a lifetime. Make choosing water a fun activity:Explain that children need water to grow just like trees, grass, dogs, and cats. Engage children in watering the lawn or a houseplant, setting out water bowls for pets or birds, and then celebrate with a drink of water for yourselves.Children may enjoy adding lemon, lime, or orange slices to their water for natural flavoring.Water and fruit bits or berries can be frozen in ice-cube trays and served as popsicles.Children can be assigned as “water helper” to set up small drinking cups at meal or snack time.
Added sugar can cause obesity and other chronic health problems.
Sugar-sweetened food and beverages are especially dangerous for young children because they may develop a lasting preference for sweet taste. Added sugar increases risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity-related cancers, and dental caries. Sugary drinks are a major factor in today’s obesity epidemic. An 8-ounce cola has 26 grams of sugar, equivalent to more than six packets of white sugar. Even an 8-ounce lemonade or sports drink has more than 20 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association urges:No added sugar for children 23 months and younger.Children and youth ages 2 through 18 years should have no more than 25 grams of added sugar each day (American Heart Association, 2016).
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Water and milk are the best choices for children. Water hydrates the body and helps combat cavities. Milk at meals has calcium to build bones, vitamin D, and other key nutrients for growth and development.Birth through 6 months or longer: Breastmilk exclusively.12 through 23 months: Whole milk unless at risk for obesity— then reduced-fat milk (2%). Breastfeeding should continue as long as mutually desired by mother and child.2 years and older: Low-fat (1%) or skim (no-fat) milk.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 1 to 6 years have no more than 4-6 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice per day. Sugar-sweetened beverages should be served in cups, not baby bottles. Juice can be diluted with water.Families on the run who stop at fast-food restaurants for convenience can bypass sugary beverages for their children by avoiding “combo” meals or requesting water or plain milk as the “combo” beverage.
There are healthy alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages
2
Pia, 18 months, is in your office for a preventive medical checkup. As you enter, Pia is sipping from a bottled soft drink. “More,” Pia says when her mother puts it away. “Wait for lunch, ok?” the mother says. “Let’s say hi to the nice doctor now.” Pia nods. Upon examination, Pia’s weight-for-length (determined using World Health Organization growth charts) is in the 99th percentile, which places her in the overweight category. Pia’s mother says her daughter drinks milk every day but prefers the soft drinks that her family likes. In Texas, overweight/obesity rates for children and youth are higher than national rates. Preventive medical checkups provide an opportunity to identify children at risk for overweight/obesity and to promote healthy nutrition and physical activity. The earlier children develop healthy habits, the more likely they are to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Your observation of Pia and her mother can guide the way you address healthy habits for this family. Here are evidence-based messages you can convey to help prevent Pia from being overweight as she grows.
A Word to Parents: Watch What YOU Drink!
Sugar-sweetened food and beverages are especially dangerous for young children because they may develop a lasting preference for sweet taste. Added sugar increases risk for obesity, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, obesity-related cancers, and dental caries. Sugary drinks are a major factor in today’s obesity epidemic. An 8-ounce cola has 26 grams of sugar, equivalent to more than six packets of white sugar. Even an 8-ounce lemonade or sports drink has more than 20 grams of sugar. The American Heart Association urges:No added sugar for children 23 months and younger.Children and youth ages 2 through 18 years should have no more than 25 grams of added sugar each day (American Heart Association, 2016).
There are healthy alternatives to sugar-sweetened beverages
Water and milk are the best choices for children. Water hydrates the body and helps combat cavities. Milk at meals has calcium to build bones, vitamin D, and other key nutrients for growth and development.Birth through 6 months or longer: Breastmilk exclusively.12 through 23 months: Whole milk unless at risk for obesity—then reduced-fat milk (2%). Breastfeeding should continue as long as mutually desired by mother and child.2 years and older: Low-fat (1%) or skim (no-fat) milk.The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children 1 to 6 years have no more than 4-6 ounces of 100 percent fruit juice per day. Sugar-sweetened beverages should be served in cups, not baby bottles. Juice can be diluted with water.Families on the run who stop at fast-food restaurants for convenience can bypass sugary beverages for their children by avoiding “combo” meals or requesting water or plain milk as the “combo” beverage.
Involve children in choosing a healthy beverage.
Families can help children create healthy beverage habits that can last a lifetime. Make choosing water a fun activity:Explain that children need water to grow just like trees, grass, dogs, and cats. Engage children in watering the lawn or a houseplant, setting out water bowls for pets or birds, and then celebrate with a drink of water for yourselves.Children may enjoy adding lemon, lime, or orange slices to their water for natural flavoring.Water and fruit bits or berries can be frozen in ice-cube trays and served as popsicles.Children can be assigned as “water helper” to set up small drinking cups at meal or snack time.
Breastfeeding