• CATALOG
• FAMILIES
  • Care-giving
  • Early Childhood
  • Parenting
• AGING
  • Alzheimers
  • Elder Care
• WORK
  • Vocational Rehabilitation
• HEALTH
  • Diabetes
  • Exercise
  • Obesity
  • Personal Care
• EMOTION/MENTAL DISORDERS
  • Autism
  • Emotional & Behavior Disorders
  • Mental Illness
  • Mental Retardation
• GENERAL INTEREST
  • American Indian Experience
  • Developmental Psychology
  • General Disability Information
  • Reference Desk
• RESEARCH
• SPECIAL EDUCATION
• SPECIFIC DISABILITIES
  • Index by Disability Name
  • Attention Deficit
  • Autism
    • Autism:Learn More
  • Diabetes
  • Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
  • Learning Disabilities
  • Physical Disabilities
  • Visual Impairment
• CONTACT US

Spirit Lake Consulting Home

Obesity is a problem throughout America and throughout the lifespan. Regardless of age or disability, anyone who is overweight can benefit by an appropriate nutrition and exercise program. Who is obese is determined by a Body Mass Index, which takes into account height and weight. On the average, an adult who is 30-35 pounds over a healthy weight would be considered obese. Those 100 pounds or more overweight are considered 'morbidly obese'.

Childhood and adolescent obesity - is a short booklet that answers the question, "What can parents do?" when they are concerned about their child who is overweight. Written by Betty Holmes, in the Cooperative Extension Service at the University of Wyoming.

Diet, exercise and body image in teens - is the topic of this Child Trends newsletter. Although obesity is more common on the reservation than eating disorders such as bulimia or anorexia, they do occur and this is a good introduction to the subject. Regarding the questions to assess overweight and eating disorders, our experience suggests you might have more success on the reservation talking and listening to teens rather than asking those questions outright.

Dangers of childhood obesity - another short article, discusses causes of obesity, why there are so many more overweight children now than thirty years ago and what you can do about it, by Sandra Bastin of the University of Kentucky.

Do more, watch less - is a program for reducing the amount of time children spend in front of screens - TV screens, computer screens - and increasing the amount of time they spend in physical activity. Whether you work in an elementary school, middle school, Boys & Girls Club program or anywhere with children, this program is highly recommended. Try it! Funded by the Center for Disease Control and the California Endowment.

Economics of obesity - being overweight costs a lot of money. It costs money in time lost from work, in medical costs to treat diseases related to obesity and in the non-nutritious pre-packaged food we eat. This article by the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City is full of fascinating information, such as the fact that, if you are average, you eat 32 pounds of snacks each year and, if you live in a rural community, you are probably fatter.

Obesity in older adults, an article from the Administration on Aging urges caregivers to promote physical activity in adults as a means of reducing the risk of chronic diseases, such as diabetes.