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Strive for Healthy Kids

Why is childhood obesity considered a health problem?

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey approximately 17%

Children running (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.  Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
Doctors and scientists are concerned about the rise of obesity in children and youth because obesity may lead to:
  • Heart disease, caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Sleep apnea
  • Social discrimination
These risks may not be immediate but may become problems in adulthood.
 
What to do???

 If you are unsure about your child’s healthy weight, talk to your pediatrician.  If your child is overweight, he or she probably knows it, and needs your support.

  •  Let your child know that she or he is loved and appreciated whatever their weight.  
  • Encourage your child to drink water.  
  • Limit the amount of juice, energy drinks, and caffeinated drinks.
 Children dancing
 
Whether your child has a weight problem or not, your family should:
 
Balance Calories
  •   Remove calorie-rich temptations!
    •  Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits. 
    • Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats!
  • Examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or less:
    •  A medium-size apple
    •  A medium-size banana
    •  1 cup blueberries
    •  1 cup grapes
    •  1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. hummus
 

 Help Kids Stay Active

 Regular physical activity is fun and has many health benefits, including:

  •  Strengthening bones
  •  Decreasing blood pressure
  •  Reducing stress and anxiety
  •  Increasing self-esteem
  •  Helping with weight management
 
Strategies:
  • Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.  
    • Remember that children imitate adults. 
    • Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.
  • Limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. 
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger.
 
What is Moderate Intensity Physical Activity?
 
Some examples include:
  •  Brisk walking
  •  Playing tag
  • Jumping rope
  • Playing soccer
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
 Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html accessed 10/9/13
 Created 10/17/13, Updated 9/3/15


Why is childhood obesity considered a health problem?

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey approximately 17%

Children running (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.  Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
Doctors and scientists are concerned about the rise of obesity in children and youth because obesity may lead to:
  • Heart disease, caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Sleep apnea
  • Social discrimination
These risks may not be immediate but may become problems in adulthood.
 
What to do???

 If you are unsure about your child’s healthy weight, talk to your pediatrician.  If your child is overweight, he or she probably knows it, and needs your support.

  •  Let your child know that she or he is loved and appreciated whatever their weight.  
  • Encourage your child to drink water.  
  • Limit the amount of juice, energy drinks, and caffeinated drinks.
 Children dancing
 
Whether your child has a weight problem or not, your family should:
 
Balance Calories
  •   Remove calorie-rich temptations!
    •  Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits. 
    • Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats!
  • Examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or less:
    •  A medium-size apple
    •  A medium-size banana
    •  1 cup blueberries
    •  1 cup grapes
    •  1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. hummus
 

 Help Kids Stay Active

 Regular physical activity is fun and has many health benefits, including:

  •  Strengthening bones
  •  Decreasing blood pressure
  •  Reducing stress and anxiety
  •  Increasing self-esteem
  •  Helping with weight management
 
Strategies:
  • Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.  
    • Remember that children imitate adults. 
    • Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.
  • Limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. 
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger.
 
What is Moderate Intensity Physical Activity?
 
Some examples include:
  •  Brisk walking
  •  Playing tag
  • Jumping rope
  • Playing soccer
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
 Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html accessed 10/9/13
 Created 10/17/13, Updated 9/3/15


Why is childhood obesity considered a health problem?

According to the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention, in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey approximately 17%

Children running (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents aged 2—19 years are obese.  Since 1980, obesity prevalence among children and adolescents has almost tripled.
Doctors and scientists are concerned about the rise of obesity in children and youth because obesity may lead to:
  • Heart disease, caused by high cholesterol and/or high blood pressure
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Asthma
  • Sleep apnea
  • Social discrimination
These risks may not be immediate but may become problems in adulthood.
 
What to do???

 If you are unsure about your child’s healthy weight, talk to your pediatrician.  If your child is overweight, he or she probably knows it, and needs your support.

  •  Let your child know that she or he is loved and appreciated whatever their weight.  
  • Encourage your child to drink water.  
  • Limit the amount of juice, energy drinks, and caffeinated drinks.
 Children dancing
 
Whether your child has a weight problem or not, your family should:
 
Balance Calories
  •   Remove calorie-rich temptations!
    •  Although everything can be enjoyed in moderation, reducing the calorie-rich temptations of high-fat and high-sugar, or salty snacks can also help your children develop healthy eating habits. 
    • Instead only allow your children to eat them sometimes, so that they truly will be treats!
  • Examples of easy-to-prepare, low-fat and low-sugar treats that are 100 calories or less:
    •  A medium-size apple
    •  A medium-size banana
    •  1 cup blueberries
    •  1 cup grapes
    •  1 cup carrots, broccoli, or bell peppers with 2 tbsp. hummus
 

 Help Kids Stay Active

 Regular physical activity is fun and has many health benefits, including:

  •  Strengthening bones
  •  Decreasing blood pressure
  •  Reducing stress and anxiety
  •  Increasing self-esteem
  •  Helping with weight management
 
Strategies:
  • Children and teens should participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity most days of the week, preferably daily.  
    • Remember that children imitate adults. 
    • Start adding physical activity to your own daily routine and encourage your child to join you.
  • Limit the time your children watch television, play video games, or surf the web to no more than 2 hours per day. 
  • The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend television viewing for children age 2 or younger.
 
What is Moderate Intensity Physical Activity?
 
Some examples include:
  •  Brisk walking
  •  Playing tag
  • Jumping rope
  • Playing soccer
  • Swimming
  • Dancing
 Source:  http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html accessed 10/9/13
 Created 10/17/13, Updated 9/3/15


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