New Program Targets Obese Teens and Adults

Why this drastic increase? Not surprisingly, the South’s diet of fried foods, rich gravies and creamy sauces contribute to these startling statistics. “Part of it is just how we cook in Louisiana, and the South in general,” confirmed Dr. Wilson Campbell, EdD, professor in the Department of Kinesiology at the University of Louisiana – Monroe. “We are really good cooks in the South, and we really enjoy the food that we cook. So, just the nature of the way we prepare our food, it’s going to be much higher in calories and, in particular, fat gram calories.”

Another major factor is teens’ addiction to screens – televisions, computers, video game players, iPhones, iPods. Recently, thanks to a $1 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Education, UL-M partnered with Monroe City school districts to redesign their physical education program. An exciting, innovative research-based curriculum “Five for Life” was implemented to increase student activity levels, improve student health-related fitness and integrate health academic content. Campbell tackled this troubling topic of teen obesity and reported his findings on student activity levels and fitness.

In the study, Campbell performed a random activity and body composition analysis (BMI) of 71 females and 73 males from a high school in Northeast Louisiana. He also analyzed health-related fitness scores of 340 fifth graders, 258 eighth graders, and 348 tenth graders. For all groups, he studied the youngster’s Body Mass Index ranges.

For the analysis, kids prepared a log of their physical activities outside of the school setting for two days during the week and one day on the weekend. Campbell compared the time students spent in media settings (TV, computer, video games, texting, reading, homework) to heart healthy activities. The results were alarming. On average, high school girls ages 15 to 17 spent 231 minutes in media settings versus only four minutes in heart healthy exercises. “There’s not too much health improvement when you are spending an average of only four minutes in three days on activities,” Campbell observed.

Boys of the same age rated slightly higher, spending an average of 26 minutes in heart healthy exercise compared to 223 minutes of screen time. Both sexes ranked far below the recommended average of 60 minutes of exercise daily for at least five days per week.

BMI rates were similarly stunning. A normal BMI range for boys (15-17 years old) is between 16.2 and 20.0, and for girls (15-17 years old) is 16.0 to 25.0. Being overweight is defined as having a BMI between 25 and 29.9, while a BMI of 30 or higher is considered obese. In the study, the average BMI for the high school girls was 25.99, ranging from 17.51 to 52.71. The female with the highest BMI was only 5 foot 1 inch tall and weighed 295 pounds. “That means that in the group as a whole, the average girl was overweight and getting close to obese,” Campbell explained. For boys, the range was 17.43 to 40.68, with an average of 24.03. The boy at the high end of the scale was 6 feet tall and weighed 300 pounds.

Why the increase in overweight and obese teens? “There’s always a slight genetic link,” Campbell said. “We are a byproduct of our parents. Our body type sometimes makes students more prone to develop poor body composition. But, the big factors are your diet and how much physical activity that you have.”

For the fitness study, Campbell randomly surveyed an elementary, junior high, and high school in different North Louisiana school districts. In the analysis of fifth through tenth grade students, children were assessed in five categories – BMI, cardio-respiratory endurance (timed slow jog), flexibility (sit and reach), muscle endurance (curl-ups), and muscle strength (push-ups). The youngest group showed a shocking trend. Overall, only 11 percent of these kids met all five standards of health-related fitness. For older students, the numbers were even lower – only one percent of junior high, and two percent of high school students, met all five standards.

What do all of these numbers mean? In a snapshot, Louisiana’s youngsters spend far too much time in media settings rather than in physical activities. “What we find is that kids are not very active today, at least in my part of the state,” Campbell reported. “Because of that, we are seeing a rise in obesity levels, increased numbers of kids who develop type II diabetes, and kids in junior high who have high blood pressure. We are really seeing a lot of adult diseases now hitting children in the teenage years, which is a very disturbing trend.”

Currently, Campbell is collaborating with sociology professor, Dr. Syeda Jesmin, on a new grant through the U.S. Department of Agriculture to plant vegetable gardens at schools. With this proposed pilot program, students would participate in the planting and growing of the vegetables, as well as learning the importance of getting nutrition through more fruits and vegetables. “When I look at the data from what the students give me on nutritional analysis, they are so deficient in fruits and vegetables,” he said. “They are taking in more protein and grains (variety of potato chips) than what they need. Those are the things that lay the foundation that affect a person’s body composition.”

The team submitted the application in November and is anxiously awaiting the results. “This is just another way to really try to improve the health of school-age children in our area here,” Campbell said.

New Program Targets Obese Teens and Adults

So, what is the solution for this troubling trend? One approach, Lafayette-based Healthe Habits for Living (HHL), is a comprehensive weight loss program combining fitness, nutrition and lifestyle in a one-stop shop. Launched in July, 2008, by occupational therapist/psychologist/lifestyle and weight management consultant Jill Hurley, HHL targets individuals of any age with a BMI of 30 or higher. Physicians refer patients to the program, which, in most cases, is covered by insurance.

The program involves a three-pronged approach, focusing on food, exercise and the mental aspect of trying to lose weight, keep it off, and sustain habits. “My goal for my clients is basically function,” Hurley explained. “It’s helping someone who wants to be able to get in and out of the bathtub, or has a hard time getting up a flight of stairs without getting exhausted, or wants to be able to play with their grandkids on the floor without being afraid that they can’t get up.”

After an initial physical evaluation and lifestyle assessment, patients undergo one-on-one education, counseling and coaching on appropriate exercising, healthy eating and maintaining life-time habits. Typically, patients report to HHL for hour and a half sessions two to three times a week, where they do cardiovascular exercise and strength training under supervision in the private fitness studio. During the session, Hurley instructs patients about healthy eating and lifestyle changes. They may also purchase Healthe Food, consisting of four or eight custom-prepared, single-portioned entrees with dessert.

The program lasts about eight to 12 weeks. After that, patients should have sufficient training to continue the nutrition and fitness components at home. “My goal is to have people learn how to do this on their own,” Hurley said.

Already, Hurley is seeing positive results with her patients, including decreased weight, body fat mass and blood pressure, as well as increased energy, flexibility and strength. Some patients have even reached the point where they no longer need medications or are on a reduced amount. “My clients tend to be very happy with this program,” she said.

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