A new report issued by the Institute of Medicine on early childhood obesity prevention policies. Yes, I agree we should start early. Yes, I agree that by adulthood the habits that you have created are much harder to break. The report notes that almost 10 percent of infants and toddlers carry excess weight for their length. They recommend childcare agencies increase physical activity, providing daily opportunities for infants to move freely under adult supervision to explore their indoor and outdoor environments.
I am sorry but infants need to move around more? The poor things can hardly roll over themselves.
What I think really needs to happen is more education for the parents more on proper nutrition. I was a chubby baby, I had rolls. My mom frequently apologizes for not knowing any better. Once I started walking, the weight came off. That is pretty much how the world of being an infant works.
The report also recommends that infants and toddlers get more sleep. The report brief didn’t say what evidence demonstrated that sleep had declined for children, but I just don’t understand how this can be right. What infants don’t sleep almost every hour? I hated taking naps, but I took them during kindergarten.
IOM does recommend that dietary guidelines are established from birth to age two among other nutritional items.
I just don’t think there is a true understanding of what needs to be done. I certainly don’t think IOM’s report provides the right type of recommendations.
The full recommendations can be read here.