According to the CDC, the number of obese children in the United States has tripled since the 1970s. This rise is what is prompting heath care officials to call childhood obesity an epidemic.

 Obesity is a complex topic, because there are no quick and easy answers. Biological, behavioral, social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors all contribute to the problem, and it is no simple task to follow the threads to a neat cause-and-effect solution. What is clear is that as a culture, we need to address each of these areas. Research has shown that high birth weight children are at a higher risk for obesity, as are those that are overweight or obese by the time they are five years old. This points to the importance of establishing a healthy trajectory during pregnancy and the preschool years.

Changing the whole family’s diet to whole, nutrient dense foods is a powerful way to influence eating habits. Singling a child out for special meals or fewer treats is isolating and embarrassing but encouraging healthy changes for the whole family helps everyone. Chiropractors are trained to recognize the importance of nutrition in health, and can be an important resource for any family wishing to change their eating habits.

The same thing is true of exercise. To encourage increased physical activity, it is important to get the whole family moving together. If children have someone to be active with, they are more likely to enjoy the process and to form new habits. Children seek connection with other people and healthy activity can be a great way to spend time together. Parents can also do their best to pressure schools to include activity in positive physical education classes and by offering recess time. Time outdoors in green space often inspires children to greater physical activity than an activity organized by an adult does.

Make healthy sleep a priority. Studies show that children who get less sleep or poor sleep are more likely to be obese. Sleep is critically important to maintaining healthy hormone levels, which are important for governing metabolism. A tired child will be more likely to seek the quick hit of energy that sugars or other simple carbohydrates provide and then will get caught in a cycle of highs and lows that will further destabilize their metabolism. Lack of sleep can also cause high levels of cortisol, the stress hormone, and that can lead to overeating.

These three areas are the things that families have the most control over. In addition to eating healthy food, encouraging physical activity and discouraging screen time, and getting enough sleep, parents can come together to try to shape their schools and communities to support a healthier lifestyle. School lunch programs should offer healthy foods (and especially beverages!) to all children during the school day. Communities can work to increase access to green space outdoors that lends itself to a multitude of activities. Cooperation is necessary to increase the availability of and access to affordable and wholesome food.

Chiropractors are traditionally consulted to diagnose and treat problems with the spine and nervous system. However, many also pursue degrees in nutrition because they recognize the importance of nutrition in good health, and they will be able to help families find nutritionists to work with. In addition, chiropractic care can increase mobility, reduce pain, and increase a person’s range of motion. All of these things will help support the ability to exercise and increase activity. Since obesity is a widespread issue that affects each of us, we will all have to work together to overcome the factors that have brought us here.