Issue Date: November 8, 2009
Keys to healthy kids
KidsHealth.org delivers the year's most important and interesting health news. How does it affect your family?
By Neil Izenberg, M.D.
AS A PEDIATRICIAN, I believe physicians should provide reliable, jargon-free information to help parents make informed decisions about their children's health. That's why I founded Nemours' KidsHealth.org in 1995, one of the first sites devoted solely to children's health. Many parents who visited my pediatric practice then were confused or intimidated by medical concepts. They wanted answers that weren't in doctor-speak.
Now, almost 15 years (and 1 billion visitors) later, the questions keep coming. And getting clear-cut answers to an increasing amount of confusing, even downright scary news is what parents need most. Here, I separate fact from fiction and highlight some of the most interesting, important health news from this year. I hope this information can help you and your family.
Health care: Apply for free coverage for your children
Like most Americans, I'm closely following the country's attempts to improve health care. For many of us who care for children, reform can't come quickly enough. But for millions of uninsured children who have no medical or dental care, that help is already here, at least in part: the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP. Earlier this year, President Obama signed a bill that makes millions of children eligible for CHIP. The problem, however, is that 5 million children who may be eligible haven't enrolled.
Is your uninsured child missing out on this benefit? Even if you have a job, have a total household income of up to $44,500 a year or have previously applied but been turned down for CHIP, your child still may be eligible. Find out at Insure Kids Now! online.
To read more: Go to insurekidsnow.gov.
Sleep: Alternate your baby's position
Since the "Back to Sleep" campaign in the early 1990s, the number of infants who have died from SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, has dropped by about 40%. A minor consequence of lying on their backs: A study has found that more babies now have flat heads, or flat head syndrome.
You can help prevent this syndrome by alternating your infant's head position from one night to the next, providing lots of tummy time when he's awake and limiting your baby's time in carriers and swings.
To read more: Go to kidshealth.org/parent; search for "flattened head."
Obesity: Be realistic about your child's weight
In general, today's children are much heavier than those of a generation ago. "Not my kid!" -- or at least that's what we think, according to a study reported in "Science Daily." Researchers found that most parents are unable to judge whether their kids are at a healthy weight. And, from what I've seen, many of those who know their kids are overweight think it's just baby fat that the child will "grow out" of.
The reality is that few of them will lose the weight without lifestyle changes. The best way to tell if your child is at a healthy weight is to check with her pediatrician. Ask about your child's body mass index, or BMI, to get an idea of where your child's weight is relative to her height and age.
To read more: Go to cdc.gov/bmi.
Autism: Test early
When I trained as a doctor, knowledge about autism disorders was minimal. Now, with about one in every 150 kids being diagnosed "on the spectrum," there has been a lot of awareness and research. Poor communication is a hallmark of these disorders, and until now, it has been difficult to detect in pre-verbal children.
An article in "Time" magazine reports that signs of autism, including difficulty making eye contact and a lack of babbling, have been found in babies (for more signs, see firstsigns.org). Screening is recommended at least twice before a child turns 2. The earlier the diagnosis, the sooner he can get the help he needs.
To read more: Go to time.com and search for "Researchers Find First Signs of Autism Even in Infancy."
Sports: Gimme an S (for safety)
I've always been concerned about the potential hazards of contact sports such as football and lacrosse. But, to be honest, I never really gave much thought to all of the athletes cheering on the sidelines -- until now.
An annual report from the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research found that cheerleading is the most dangerous sport among high school and college female athletes. It cites "gymnastics-type stunts" as a main reason for so many serious -- and sometimes fatal -- injuries.
Parents can help reduce the likelihood of injuries by making sure their child's school follows the American Association of Cheerleading Coaches & Administrators' guidelines.
To read more: Go to aacca.org and click on "safety rules."
Peanut allergies: Stay tuned for a cure
As a kid growing up in Metuchen, N.J., there was nothing I liked better than a peanut butter-and-jelly sandwich and a tall glass of milk. But the rise in food allergies since those days has, for many kids, shelved what was once a childhood staple.
Now, a potential cure is in sight. A small study found that kids exposed to daily doses of peanut flour over an extended period of time seemed to develop a tolerance for the food. Researchers are hopeful that the technique will help develop a cure. In the meantime, keep your child away from nuts if he's allergic.
To read more: Go to foodallergy.org and search for "common food allergies."
Fitness: Get little couch potatoes moving
Tiny tykes can be tough to keep up with, so they must be super-active, right? Wrong. A recent study found that, contrary to conventional wisdom, preschoolers don't move around much. In fact, 89% of daytime "activity" occurred while kids were sitting or barely moving. Those who could go outdoors, with balls and sports gear available, tended to be more active.
Whether your child is in kindergarten or ready for college, one thing is certain: All kids should get at least 60 minutes of activity every day, even if it's not consecutive.
To read more: Go to kidshealth.org/parent; search for "Motivating Preschoolers to Be Active."
Teens: Encourage sleep to boost happiness
Bad sleeping habits among teens can cause everything from poor concentration to falling grades. And now, a Columbia University study finds that teens who hit the sack by midnight or later are more likely to be depressed than those in bed by 10 p.m. They're also far more likely to have suicidal thoughts. To move up bedtime, limit caffeinated drinks before bed, call "lights out" at 10 p.m. on most nights, and put cellphones and computers out of reach.
To read more: Go to sleepfoundation.org; search for "sleep hygiene."
Puberty: Start the conversation with kids
I get lots of e-mails from tweens desperate to learn about puberty: "When will I get my period?" or "When will I grow taller?" Kids often don't like asking their parents these questions. And guess what? Many parents are uncomfortable answering them. A recent poll found 80% of moms surveyed feel only "somewhat prepared" or "not prepared at all" to talk to their daughters about puberty. So start talking to kids about bodily changes around age 8. At KidsHealth, we recommend ongoing conversations about puberty, not just one "big talk."
For help: Check out KidsHealth's new site, pinklockersociety.org.
Diet: Make small portions
These days, triple-decker cheeseburgers or 32-ounce "gulps" of soda have become the norm.
A great way to estimate appropriate portion size is to divide your plate into four equal sections. Use one top section for protein and the other for a starch, preferably a whole grain. Then, fill both of the bottom sections with veggies.
Calculate exactly how much protein, starch, etc., your child needs at mypyramid.gov.
To read more: MyPyramid.gov.
Water: Don't overdo it
Sure, kids need water. But "Scientific American" reports there's no hard evidence that drinking eight glasses of water a day is necessary for good health. Just be sure your kids are well hydrated when they are active, when they're in hot or dry environments or if they have certain medical conditions. Overall, they get plenty of water from other beverages and even food. Unless your kids are in an environment where they need to stay ahead in hydration, just have them drink water whenever they're thirsty.
To read more: scientificamerican.com.
Pediatrician Neil Izenberg is the founder and editor-in-chief of Nemours' award-winning website KidsHealth.org.
Cover photograph by Robert Sebree for USA WEEKEND
Grooming by Adrienne Herbert/Celestine, Erin Smith/Celestine
wardrobe styling by Marina Toybina; Children's apparel on cover from Sportsrobe
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We asked the kids from TV's new hit comedy "Modern Family":
How do you stay healthy?
By Mary Murphy
TV star Ed O'Neill may not look the part of an exercise junkie, but he says he keeps plenty healthy by training in the martial art of Brazilian jujitsu. O'Neill, 63, has a black belt, and for USA WEEKEND's photo shoot, he brings his own uniform to wear.
Soon after he bounds out of the dressing room, the onetime football prospect for the Pittsburgh Steelers is on the floor. Lying on his back, he raises his legs, wraps them around the neck of a photo assistant and flips the guy onto his back. No one is hurt, but everyone is impressed.
"I once had to do this outside of a bar in Santa Monica when a friend of mine was being assaulted," the actor says. The assailant wasn't as lucky as the photo assistant. O'Neill squeezed the assailant hard, "and then he passed out. I am one of the strongest guys around."
O'Neill plays the patriarch on ABC's "Modern Family," about a somewhat dysfunctional clan. For this cover story, the kids on the show joined O'Neill for our photo shoot and talked to us about their health.
Rico Rodriguez, 11, took one look at himself on the program's pilot and decided he didn't like what he saw. "I didn't like my stomach bulging out," says Rico, who plays O'Neill's stepson, Manny. "I looked fat." A few months ago, he cut back his food portions and started walking every day after work with his 16-year-old sister and his mom. He already has dropped two pants sizes -- going from an 18 to a 14 -- while still enjoying his favorite foods, "regular kid stuff like burgers and spaghetti."
Nolan Gould, also 11, is a self-styled nutrition expert. He knows the fat and fiber content of everything he eats. "I know the limit of what I should intake," says Nolan, who plays Luke. An avid athlete, he surfs, rides bikes and is learning how to rappel down cliffs.
Ariel Winter, who plays Alex, touts her healthy habits, too. "I love peas," says Ariel, 12. "I could eat them every day of the week." Ariel rides her bike and walks around the studio lot every day on a break from shooting. "It's not that I am into the thin thing," she says. "I just like to do it because it gives me time to myself, and I can think."
There has to be a junk-food junkie in the cast, right? That would be 18-year-old Sarah Hyland, who plays Haley. She stays slim despite her fondness for burgers and pizza. She weighs 90 pounds and wears a size 0.
"You don't even want to know what I eat!" Sarah says. But she wouldn't mind gaining a few pounds. "If I had a curvier body, I would love that."
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