Pediatrician Urges Parents To Instill Healthy Habits
Eating Vegetables May Not Be Pleasant, But Necessary
UPDATED: 4:46 p.m. EDT May 3, 2004
It's the carefree picture of being a kid: Getting outside to play and sitting at the dinner table until you eat those veggies.
But these days, the picture can be a bit different. Some kids aren't getting much exercise, and they're eating fast and fattening food on a regular basis.
The American Academy of Pediatrics says over the past 20 years, there has been a big jump in the number of overweight and obese children.
Kaitlyn, 7, recently paid a visit to Dr. Barbara Frankowski, a pediatrician at the University of Vermont in Burlington, for her annual checkup.
Standing nearly 3 feet 11 inches, Kaitlyn learned she's doing a great job of growing.
Each year, a few new dots go on Kaitlyn's growth chart, including one spot for her body mass index, or BMI.
In children, BMI is measured by determining height and weight and is different for boys and girls.
The higher the BMI, the greater the risk of future health problems like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. 
Calculate your child's BMI.
"The diabetes (is) associated with overweight (people) and insulin resistance -- and that never used to be a problem in kids," Frankowski said. "When I was trained to be a pediatrician, I barely learned anything about it because you never saw kids with that kind of diabetes."
Kaitlyn's BMI was a little bit higher on her last visit, so it's time to find out what she's been eating.
"How about your two favorite vegetables?" Frankowski asked.
"I don't like vegetables," Kaitlin said.
"You don't? Not even corn on the cob?" Frankowski asked.
"I don't like corn on the cob," Kaitlin said.
It's never easy to get kids to eat healthy. That's why Frankowski urges parents to start early.
"Certainly with a young child where a parent has more control over what's in the house and what's there to eat, I help them make lots of little steps, and I always start with liquid calories," Frankowski said.
She suggests water and low-fat or skim milk instead of drinks with empty calories and no nutrients.
"No soda, unless it's a treat with diet soda every once in awhile," Frankowski said. "Watch out for fruit drinks and sports drinks because parents, their heart is in the right place, but they don't realize that those drinks have as much sugar as soda."
Frankowski urges parents to never use food as a reward for good behavior. Instead, make exercise and physical activity the prize.
"If they like tae kwon do, dance, soccer -- whatever they like -- encourage them to do it," she said. "And even activities at home that you can do as families."
And if weight is an issue, Frankowski says to watch what and how much your kids are eating before you say the word "diet."
"You have to be very careful in kids who are still growing that they get the proper nutrition ... those Atkins diets are not meant for kids at all," Frankowski said.
Calculate your child's BMI.
"The diabetes (is) associated with overweight (people) and insulin resistance -- and that never used to be a problem in kids," Frankowski said. "When I was trained to be a pediatrician, I barely learned anything about it because you never saw kids with that kind of diabetes."
Kaitlyn's BMI was a little bit higher on her last visit, so it's time to find out what she's been eating.
"How about your two favorite vegetables?" Frankowski asked.
"I don't like vegetables," Kaitlin said.
"You don't? Not even corn on the cob?" Frankowski asked.
"I don't like corn on the cob," Kaitlin said.
It's never easy to get kids to eat healthy. That's why Frankowski urges parents to start early.
"Certainly with a young child where a parent has more control over what's in the house and what's there to eat, I help them make lots of little steps, and I always start with liquid calories," Frankowski said.
She suggests water and low-fat or skim milk instead of drinks with empty calories and no nutrients.
"No soda, unless it's a treat with diet soda every once in awhile," Frankowski said. "Watch out for fruit drinks and sports drinks because parents, their heart is in the right place, but they don't realize that those drinks have as much sugar as soda."
Frankowski urges parents to never use food as a reward for good behavior. Instead, make exercise and physical activity the prize.
"If they like tae kwon do, dance, soccer -- whatever they like -- encourage them to do it," she said. "And even activities at home that you can do as families."
And if weight is an issue, Frankowski says to watch what and how much your kids are eating before you say the word "diet."
"You have to be very careful in kids who are still growing that they get the proper nutrition ... those Atkins diets are not meant for kids at all," Frankowski said.
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