Resources and Stategies for Battling Childhood Obesity

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The issue of childhood obesity has become such a problem in the United States that we now have an entire month dedicated to National Childhood Obesity Month (September).

That’s really tragic.

Childhood obesity is considered an epidemic in the US with over 23 million obese children and teens. Our society needs to demonstrate healthier habits for our children and it starts with parents at home.

Knowing how much is too much can make you and your child healthier.

Resources for Activities and Programs for National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September was declared “National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month” by the White House in 2010. This is a month to not only bring awareness to the problem of obesity, but also encourage the nation to work together to implement plans, programs, and activities to reduce obesity among children. Parents, teachers, health care providers, and other civic organizations are all charged to be a part of this process.

We hear about our growing obesity rates in the United States on a daily basis, but are we really doing what needs to be done to fix it?

Reports earlier in the year indicated that our country may have been making significant gains (perhaps losses!) in the battle against obesity, but later the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, while there may be some decline, particularly in pre-school age children, the percent of children and teens who are extremely obese has actually increased.

obese child
Obesity amongst children has become an epidemic, with more than 23 million obese or overweight children in America.

Obesity amongst children has become an epidemic, with more than 23 million obese or overweight children in America.

That’s approximately one in three children.

These children will face a lifetime of health issues if measures are not taken to get them healthy. Some of the associated risks include a higher chance for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, sleep apnea, bone and joint problems, higher risks for cancer, being the victim of bullying and other related mental health issues.

This is not just a personal problem. It’s a national crisis. And it is costly. Each obese child costs the healthcare system about $19,000; a staggering $14 billion dollars a year in preventable health care costs.

So what do we do about it? Simply telling a child to “eat more fruits and vegetables” or “go play” is about as effective as saying “just go clean your room.” It takes a family and community focus on promoting healthy and active lifestyles to truly see changes.

In September we band together in our community and fight this problem through awareness activities and programs.

Activities and Program Resources for National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

  • Visit the We Can! Website  – We Can! stands for “Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition” – We Can! has a free toolkit with items such as a television screen time log, ways for a family to become more active, information on portion sizes, healthy eating tips and recipes, and information on sugars and fats.
  • Healthier Kids Brighter Futures also has a toolkit with resources on how to battle childhood activities and suggestions for keeping kids and families active

Suggested Activities and Ways to Make a Difference in Your Family

1. Know what you are feeding your child. There is a lot of discussion about all of the chemicals and other processed materials in our packaged food that is likely leading to weight gain and other negative reactions. Also, just as important, make sure your children understand what eating healthy food really mean. We Can has a fabulous PDF for you to use with your children – U R What U Eat.

2. Limit sugar. The amount of sugar in our diets is outrageous. Read labels and try to eliminate snacks with high sugar content.

3. Find ways to incorporate more fruits and vegetables at every meal. Offer fruits and veggies as a snack first, with junk foods after they’ve eating a healthy snack.

4. Strive to be an “active family.” Take walks, nature hikes, make scavenger hunts, or just play catch. Any activity is better than no activity.

5. Limit television time. Maybe even implement a “no TV on school nights” rule. This will also help with getting more activity.

Educate Yourself on Healthy Weights for Children

woman on computer
Many children and parents have a misconception about what is a healthy weight. Educate yourself so you know the facts.

Parents, in addition to implementing healthy habits, we have to be realistic and communicate with our pediatrician about healthy weight ranges for our children.

Studies and reports indicate that the programs to reduce obesity are not being taken seriously in the home because many children and parents have a misconception about their weight.

A study published in Maternal & Child Nutrition in 2013 reported that 62% of parents with an obese child believed their child was a healthy weight. The CDC further reported that about 30% of obese children and teens in the United States believe their weight is normal. We must be better educated about what is truly a healthy weight in order to help our children.

The good news is that all of these health issues are reversible with a change in diet and lifestyle. As with so many things, good habits start in the home, and it’s really important that parents take the lead on these programs to make them successful.

Have you dealt with childhood obesity in your family? Or do you actively take steps to try to prevent it? Share your story and tactics in comments.

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Obese Child Photo credit: Gaulsstin / Foter / CC BY-SA
Woman on Computer Photo credit: Stefan 1981 / Foter / CC BY-NC-ND
Featured Image Photo credit: Gaulsstin / Foter / CC BY
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Alexa Bigwarfe
Alexa Bigwarfe is a mother to 3 wildlings who keep her on her toes. She is an advocate, activist, speaker, author & author coach, publisher, and podcaster. Her writing career began after her infant daughter passed away at 2 days old and she turned to writing for healing. Since then, she has used her writing platform for advocacy and activism to support mothers, children, and marginalized voices. She began a nonprofit, Sunshine After the Storm, to provide support, care, healing retreats, and grief recovery to mothers in their most difficult time. She is the creator and co-host of the Lose the Cape podcast, which features moms working to make a difference in their children's lives and has co-authored and published four volumes under the Lose the Cape brand. Her primary business is Write|Publish|Sell, a company dedicated to shepherding authors through the massive process of writing and publishing their books like a pro. She owns her own publishing house, Kat Biggie Press, and a children's book publishing company, Purple Butterfly Press - both dedicated to bringing stories of hope, inspiration, encouragement, and girl-power to the world. Learn more at alexabigwarfe.com.

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