The Steep Cost of Cheap Food
Obesity and diabetes threaten children of color
Obesity and diabetes threaten children of color
Dr. Eva Vivian
MADISON, Wis. – When diabetes educator Eva Marie Vivian sees overweight minority children,
she sees a generational tragedy unfolding.
Type 2 diabetes was virtually unheard of in children a generation ago, but now as many as 3,700
young people were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes i
“Genes may load the gun, but your environment and lifestyle pull the trigger,’’ Vivian said.
As part of her screening, she queried parents about the factors causing children to gain weight.
What she learned is startling:
• About 31 percent of the children consume fast food more than twice a week
• 86 percent watch more than two hours of television.
• Among the obese and overweight children, television watching was more than three hours a day.
• The parents themselves reported being too busy with work to prepare home-cooked meals.
Vivian’s research is aimed at identifying factors that people can change to lose weight and reduce
the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Her work is funded by the UW Institute for Clinical and
Translational Research (ICTR), part of a national effort to get medical research more quickly from the
laboratories into the community.
She has just received a second grant to create a community-based intervention program that will
go into the neighborhood centers with programs for children and parents. While the children would be in
exercise classes led by trained instructors from the UW School of Kinesiology and formerly overweight
teenagers who have successfully changed their own lifestyles, parents would be learning about healthy
shopping, cooking and family lifestyle changes.
she sees a generational tragedy unfolding.
Type 2 diabetes was virtually unheard of in children a generation ago, but now as many as 3,700
young people were newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes i
“Genes may load the gun, but your environment and lifestyle pull the trigger,’’ Vivian said.
As part of her screening, she queried parents about the factors causing children to gain weight.
What she learned is startling:
• About 31 percent of the children consume fast food more than twice a week
• 86 percent watch more than two hours of television.
• Among the obese and overweight children, television watching was more than three hours a day.
• The parents themselves reported being too busy with work to prepare home-cooked meals.
Vivian’s research is aimed at identifying factors that people can change to lose weight and reduce
the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes. Her work is funded by the UW Institute for Clinical and
Translational Research (ICTR), part of a national effort to get medical research more quickly from the
laboratories into the community.
She has just received a second grant to create a community-based intervention program that will
go into the neighborhood centers with programs for children and parents. While the children would be in
exercise classes led by trained instructors from the UW School of Kinesiology and formerly overweight
teenagers who have successfully changed their own lifestyles, parents would be learning about healthy
shopping, cooking and family lifestyle changes.
“One problem is that some parents also eat unhealthy foods, and the children follow their parents,’’ Vivian said. “The good news is that when you
ask adults to change their lifestyle, they’re more likely to be receptive if it involves helping their children.”
Is Your Child At Risk For Diabetes?
1. Is your child African-American/black, Latino/Hispanic, Native American or Asian/Pacific Islander?
2. Does your child have a sister or brother with diabetes?
3. Does your child have a parent or grandparent with diabetes?
4. Has a healthcare provider told you your child is overweight or do you feel your child is overweight?
5. Does your child (between ages 10 and 19) get little or no exercise?
6. Does your child have a dark skin patch around the neck or in the armpits?
7. Has a doctor said your child has high blood pressure?
8. Has a doctor said your child has high cholesterol?
9. Has your daughter had irregular periods, excess facial hair or unusual weight gain?
If you answered yes to two or more questions, your child may be at risk for having or developing diabetes. You should talk to a health care
provider.
ask adults to change their lifestyle, they’re more likely to be receptive if it involves helping their children.”
Is Your Child At Risk For Diabetes?
1. Is your child African-American/black, Latino/Hispanic, Native American or Asian/Pacific Islander?
2. Does your child have a sister or brother with diabetes?
3. Does your child have a parent or grandparent with diabetes?
4. Has a healthcare provider told you your child is overweight or do you feel your child is overweight?
5. Does your child (between ages 10 and 19) get little or no exercise?
6. Does your child have a dark skin patch around the neck or in the armpits?
7. Has a doctor said your child has high blood pressure?
8. Has a doctor said your child has high cholesterol?
9. Has your daughter had irregular periods, excess facial hair or unusual weight gain?
If you answered yes to two or more questions, your child may be at risk for having or developing diabetes. You should talk to a health care
provider.
