Join ABC 30 Sunday night April 11th at 6:30 p.m. for our Children First special: Fighting the Fat. Find out what you can do to keep your kids fit and help them make healthier food choices.
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The Higuera family of Cutler didn't always eat healthy food. But mom, Susan, started serving healthier meals and snacks a year ago to try to prevent 6-year-old Makayla from getting type-2 diabetes.
Doctors say Makayla's extra weight is a risk factor in developing the potentially lifelong disease that results from the body's inability to use insulin to control blood sugar levels.
"We thought about her future and the trouble she could have in school so we just kind of did a big change in the whole family, not just her so it's helped a lot," said Susan Higuera.
Makayla's doctors at Children's Hospital Central Calfornia helped her and her family create healthier habits, and now the first-grader does it on her own. "I like to eat carrots and do my homework," said Makayla.
Bike riding has also become a family activity and neighbors often hear the squeaking of Makayla's two wheeler.
Children's Hospital doctors say Makayla and her family are on the right path to preventing diabetes.
"The younger we can catch them, the more impact we can have on reducing this epidemic," said Pediatric Endocrinologist Dr. Swati Banerjee.
Dr. Banerjee is seeing younger and younger patients with diabetes. She says the obesity crisis in children could have a devastating effect on families and society. "These kids are not going to live as long as their parents if they continue on this track because you are seeing these children at really high risk of cardiovascular complications at a very young age."
According to the American Diabetes Association, risk factors for type-2 include a family history of the disease, being overweight or inactive. Certain racial and ethnic groups such as Hispanic and Latino Americans, Asian-Americans and Native Americans are also at risk.
In addition to type-2 diabetes, The Centers for Disease Control says obese children are also more likely to develop high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, bone and joint problems and sleep apnea.
Holidays can be especially challenging for families trying to stay on a healthy diet. In the Higuera home for Easter this year, the children received Easter baskets but with a little more stuffing and a lot less candy.
Just one more way...This valley family is looking forward to a healthier future.
