The problem of child obesity is hard to tackle. It’s hard even to talk about.

It’s a tangled knot of culture, race, poverty, tradition, government, mental and physical health, achievement, and the economics of health care.

But Nebraskans – really all Americans because it’s a nationwide crisis – have a vested interest in figuring it out.

Estimates are that 3 or 4 in every 10 young Nebraskans is obese or overweight and at risk of obesity. The numbers are higher for Hispanic and Native children as well as children of families who receive federal supplemental nutrition program benefits.

Cultural, genetic, and socio-economic factors seem to correlate with a higher obesity rate. Mental health, emotional well-being and intellectual achievement can contribute to obesity. And they can also be diminished by it.

Modest gains on the problem may have been wiped out – at least temporarily – by COVID. Schools are on the front lines in this battle, and remote learning meant less physical education and less influence on students’ diets. It also fed anxiety and mental health issues that can contribute to obesity.

As if all these factors didn’t present challenges enough, there’s more. Dr. Ruben Quiros, director of the weight and wellness program at Children’s Hospital and Medical Center in Omaha, noted another important factor: It’s a hard problem to talk about with individuals, “There’s still a stigma of this being a self-inflicted thing.” There’s much more to it than making a choice to overeat.

And there’s a sense that it’s all about appearances. It’s not. It’s not about fitting into an outfit or having washboard abs. From a strictly medical perspective, obesity isn’t about body shaming. It’s about basic health and setting a course for a healthy adulthood.

The bill for childhood obesity comes due in the form of diabetes, heart failure and cancer later in life. And those costs are high for loved ones and for society. So, we need to figure this out now – how to talk about it and how to address it.

Schools and food support programs are focusing on offering healthier choices. Doctors and teachers can promote education and exercise. Parents have the greatest responsibility to shape children – and to enlist the help of others when needed.

It’s not an easy discussion to have person-to-person. And it’s not an easy discussion to have as a society. But our ability to talk about – and act on – child obesity is essential to our state and nation.

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