Raising Healthy Kids
Raising Healthy Kids
is a new publication series
designed to help parents,
communities, and childcare
providers address these questions...
The prevalence of overweight among American youth has become an epidemic. The number of overweight children (ages 6-11) has almost quadrupled in the past four decades and for adolescents (12-19) has tripled. In only 12 years the prevalence of overweight among children increased 5 percent depending on the age group. For African-American and Mexican-American adolescents there has been an increase of 10 percent in this short time period.
Raising Healthy Kids: What Communities Can Do
Childhood overweight is related to a number of factors including poor diet, sedentary lifestyle,
genetics, and community environment.
A growing problem in many communities is a lack of sidewalks, parks, biking trails, and community-sponsored recreation. Access to community gardens, farmers' markets, and healthy vending or concession options also is limited. Urban sprawl -- including planned communities, superhighways, and super-shopping centers -- has contributed to this problem. Communities can benefit by examining their infrastructures and working to provide a safe environment that promotes physical activity and access to healthy food options.
For more information on what a community that promotes healthy food options and physical activity order publication PM 1884 - Raising Healthy Kids: What Communities Can Do.
Raising Healthy Kids: What Parents Can Do
Researchers have found...
When both parents are physically active, the child is six times more likely to be physically active.
If one parent habitually eats high fat food, the child is twice as likely to be overweight.
If both parents eat high fat foods, the child is three to six times more likely to be overweight.
(Understanding Childhood Obesity Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 1999)
What can parents do to help a child who is overweight?
The most important thing a parent can do is to repeatedly tell and show the child, “I love you.” Never make an issue of a child's weight. Making sure your child feels totally loved and accepted, regardless of his or her size, will help contradict messages from society. A child who feels total acceptance at home will be better able to handle negative comments about body size from others.
As a parent you are the primary role model for your child. Your behaviors have a direct impact on your children. Healthy eating and physical activity are good lifestyle habits for the entire family. Children who learn the value of exercise and the how-to of choosing healthy snacks and meals are more likely to continue such habits throughout their lives.
Avoid giving special treatment to an overweight child. What is good for overweight children is good for normal weight children and their families. Never put a child on a special diet or exercise program! Weight loss is not the goal. Instead, focus on weight maintenance, which allows children to grow into their weight.
Finally, be involved in your child's life. Children of parents who generally know their child's whereabouts, set clear rules, and participate appropriately in their child's school and play activities are more likely to report healthy habits—such as eating a healthy breakfast and lunch and consuming fruits and vegetables. These children also report high levels of family communication.
For more information on strategies for eating well and family physical activity order publication NCR 374 - Raising Healthy Kids: What Parents Can Do.
Raising Healthy Kids: Snacks for Healthy Kids
According to a United States Department of Agriculture study, after-school snacks provide about one-third of children's calories. Because children have smaller stomachs, they need the energy and nutrients provided by these mini-meals. However, when high fat, high sugar snack foods are combined with screen time—either TV or computer—instead of active play time, children are likely to gain more weight than they should for optimum health.
What can you do?
Plan Snack Choices - Offer snacks that fulfill part of the daily recommendations for the food groups outlined by the Food Pyramid.
Encourage Label Detectives - For snacks that do not fit in the food guide pyramid groups, examine the fat, sodium, and sugar content on the label.
Create Snack Stations - Children often like to make their own choices, including what snack to eat. Some families keep two sets of snack choices, one in the refrigerator and another in a kitchen cup board. Children are allowed to choose from either.
Provide Chef- in-training Opportunities - Healthy snacks taste even better when kids create them with their own hands.
To learn more about snack choices and stations, as well as encouraging label detectives and chef in training opportunities, order publication PM1264 - Raising Healthy Kids: Snacks for Healthy Kids.
Order the accompanying "Raising Healthy Kids" publication series (pdf)
Additional Resources
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Alabama Cooperative Extension Service Childhood Obesity
http://www.aces.edu/dept/extcomm/newspaper/child-obesity.html -
Centers for Disease Control physical activity promotion brochures
http://www.cdc.gov/healthyYouth/PhysicalActivity -
Colorado State University Feeding Young Children
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/FOODNUT/09366.html -
Colorado State University Childhood Obesity
http://www.ext.colostate.edu/PUBS/FOODNUT/09317.html -
North Dakota State University Kids & Nutrition
http://www.ext.nodak.edu/food/kidsnutrition/ -
Purdue University If You Dont Like It, Neither Do I
http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/HE/HE-4.html -
USDA compilation of resources
http://schoolmeals.nal.usda.gov/Resource/schoolhealth.htm -
Body and Mind
http://www.bam.gov/ -
Action for Healthy Kids
http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/