A recent mission trip to the nation of Malawi revealed quite a bit of differences between that particular country and the United States. First, the currency there is a lot weaker as compared to here. Every $1 equals roughly 750 Kwacha in Malawian currency. Second, access to healthcare is not an option for most of the people there. For example, even though a local clinic in Chiradzula, run by extremely competent nurses who can suture wounds, provide high blood pressure medications and deliver babies, exists within 10-15 miles of where people live, access is limited due to the $2 cost of a clinic visit. Yes, the beautiful people of Malawi are so poor that $2 poses an astronomical financial barrier. Lastly, and the most striking difference I noticed while visiting this nation for the second time was how rarely I saw someone who was obese. And if I did see someone who obviously had a BMI greater than 30, I knew right away that they were not as poor as the average citizen of the country.
Even though I am comparing Malawi and the U.S., you can interchange Malawi with almost any other country and the comparison would probably hold true regarding obesity. Just try out the game of “pick out the American.” Does not matter on what continent you land, more than likely the biggest person in the room is probably from the U.S.
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. This month is analogous to the stream of light illuminated by lighthouses across the water. Just as the beacon of light warns ships of upcoming danger, this month is to warn parents, administrators, government officials, and healthcare providers of potential dangers of obesity in childhood.
My explanation is quite simple and does not take a doctorate degree to comprehend it: without early intervention, obese children grow up to be obese adults. One in five children in the U.S. is obese. This extra weight can carry with it many future health problems, like elevated blood pressure, diabetes, and cancer.
Childhood obesity is also associated with mental health issues like low self-esteem and depression as a result of bullying. Changing clothes in front of peers, not being able to keep up in physical education classes or suffering from hygiene issues are all problems obese children are likely to encounter on a daily basis.
Preventing our children from having to endure such indignities is where our communities should be razor-focused. Start at home. Insist on cooked meals instead of the local fast food runs. Cooking at home and eating dinner together at the table not only helps fight the obesity epidemic but it also improves our neighborhoods by strengthening families one by one.
Our schools can also help by offering a variety of healthy meal options. Children don’t need hamburger and fries every day as lunch choices. If you build it, they will come. Try a nice salad bar instead. How do you know they will not eat it, if you do not introduce it?
This obesity fight is ours to win or lose. How will YOU help?
Your family doctor,
Denise Hooks-Anderson, M.D.
Assistant Professor
SLUCare Family Medicine
yourhealthmatters@stlamerican.com
