Roughly 1 in 3 Tennessee children is overweight, and 1 in 5 is obese. These statistics haven’t improved in recent years despite increased awareness of the issue.

WellTuned spoke with Dr. Audrey Atkins, a medical director for BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, to understand why this trend continues and what families can do to help their children develop healthier habits.

Why childhood obesity rates continue to rise in Tennessee

Dr. Atkins: Childhood obesity is increasing across the U.S. and Tennessee is no different. There are many contributing factors:

• Technology overload: In the past, television was typically only in the living room. Now, we carry screens with us starting at a very young age. Children can spend hours each day looking at them instead of engaging in physical activity.
• Busy schedules: We’re busier than ever, often making grabbing meals on the go the norm.
• Unhealthy convenience foods: The snacks we grab tend to be highly processed. Examples include chips, soda, granola bars, and energy drinks. Almost all are full of sugar and empty calories.
• Affordability and accessibility: Food that is affordable or convenient is often not the healthiest option.
• Safety concerns: Many neighborhoods lack safe places for children to play outside.

Getting guidance and resources from a pediatrician

Dr. Atkins: Children’s lifestyles—what they eat and how active they are—often reflect what is being modeled by those around them. Improving a child’s wellness should start at home.

Wellness visits with your primary care provider are opportunities for improving or maintaining health. Pediatricians are great resources for an overall health and wellness assessment of your child. Your pediatrician can:

• Chart their growth and provide weight assessment
• Provide counseling on nutrition and physical activity
• Offer recommendations for screen time by age.

How to help children who may be overweight

Dr. Atkins: A child’s health is a family affair. Children should never be ashamed or teased about their weight, especially at home.
I recommend not trying to change everything at once. That can be overwhelming. I also avoid strict food restrictions, focusing instead on having healthier options available. Start by changing one or two things.  Here are some practical recommendations for families:

• Replace sugary drinks with sugar-free options or water.
• Have fruit available for snacks.
• Get involved — take walks together, explore nature. This is not only good for physical health, but it’s also a great time to bond.
• Even if you only have a few minutes in the evening together, make it “active.” Throw a ball, play a game, or cook a healthy meal together.

Focus on health, not weight

Dr. Atkins: It’s important to talk about weight, but we also need to emphasize overall health. There are children who don’t have weight issues, but they are still stuck in front of a television and get little to no exercise. This can be detrimental to physical and mental wellness.

“I try to emphasize a healthy lifestyle over focusing on weight,” says Dr. Atkins. “Making small, sustainable changes can lead to better health outcomes for everyone involved.”

More from Dr. Atkins on WellTuned

What BlueCross is doing

BlueCross is taking active steps to help children live healthier lives. BlueCross Healthy Places are parks located throughout Tennessee that provide spaces to play outside. Additionally, your pediatrician may recommend nutrition counseling that will help you and your child make healthier choices.

Get more information about specific health terms, topics and conditions to better manage your health on bcbst.com. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee members can access wellness-related discounts on fitness products, gym memberships, healthy eating and more through Blue365®. BCBST members can also find tools and resources to help improve health and well-being by logging into BlueAccess and going to the Managing Your Health tab.