CHILDHOOD OBESITY and Asian American Kids

CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Asian-American kids are packing on pounds
Posted on Tue, Jan. 08, 2008
BY MOMO CHANG
The Oakland Tribune

Despite the stereotype Asians are petite and skinny, studies show this population is rapidly becoming overweight -- so much so that a California agency is targeting Asian and Pacific Islander Americans in a campaign.

Asian Americans have the fastest growing rate of overweight and obese children, according to the Asian American Network for Cancer Awareness, Research and Training.

''Asian-American families tend to be less physically active, more home-oriented and more screen-oriented than other groups, which can create obesity issues,'' said Kris Perry, executive director of First 5 California, the state agency that recently launched an awareness campaign.
Those are just a few causes among many that contribute to obesity among Asian-American youths, ranging from cultural to environmental factors.

Fast food seems to be one of the culprits. Asian teens consume more of it than their white counterparts, according to a California Health Interview Survey, or CHIS, 2005 survey. Forty-three percent ate fast food daily, compared to 35 percent of white teens.

Asian and Pacific Islander children compared to other ethnic and racial groups are also least likely to get their daily portions of fruits and veggies, according to a CHIS survey from 2001-2003.

And Asian and Pacific Islander children are the least physically active of all racial and ethnic groups. Only 57 percent of Asian Americans between 11 and 17 had vigorous physical activity in a week, according to a 2001-2003 CHIS survey.

''There's a growing number of overweight kids,'' said Jing Liu, dietitian at Asian Health Services.
''A lot of times I hear from kids that the P.E. classes in school are no longer offered, or are only twice a week,'' the dietitian said. ``And a lot of parents enroll their kids in after-school programs, (where) they are sitting for another two hours until they go home and eat dinner. After dinner, they watch TV or play on the computer or video games.''
Food choices figure in weight gain. White rice, a staple in most Asian families, is not that healthy -- especially when consumed in big portions.
In Asian countries, rice is usually eaten from a small bowl, with healthier dishes to eat with it. In the United States, especially in restaurants, rice is heaped onto the plate, Perry said.
And poor kids have less access to healthy foods.
''The food choices in low-income neighborhoods can be very high in fat, and these neighborhoods have less fresh food choices,'' Perry said.

Obesity leads to a host of other health problems -- including heart diseases, strokes, and Type 2 diabetes -- in children.