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News
Extension
Offers
Resources on Childhood Obesity
Posted 24 February
2010
With First Lady Michelle Obama announcing a new campaign, childhood
obesity has returned to the spotlight. Iowa State University
Extension has several resources to guide parents, community members,
and others in addressing this issue.
"About one-third of our children are overweight or obese. None of us
want that for our country," Michelle Obama said. "It's time to get
moving."
The Let's Move campaign focuses
on what families, communities and the public can do to help fight
childhood obesity, termed an epidemic in the United States. The
campaign aims to take steps to reduce childhood obesity within a
generation. Other risk factors The Let’s Move campaign focuses on
include reducing type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure.
“The current environment predisposes all of us to overweight and
obesity issues,” said Ruth Litchfield, Iowa State University Extension
nutrition specialist.
“The mainstream lifestyle that many children are exposed to provides
plenty of opportunity to not be physically active and not make the
healthiest food choices,” said Kim Greder, Iowa State University
associate professor and family life state specialist.
Lack of time to prepare home cooked meals and not eating together as a
family are a few lifestyles that have been identified as leading to
weight issues. Other factors include unplanned snacking and not using
portion control methods.
“The entire family benefits from time spent preparing meals together
and engaging in physical activity,” said Litchfield. “Role modeling is
key for decreasing childhood overweight and obesity.”
Role modeling comes from many angles not just parents. Teachers,
coaches, youth group leaders, church leaders, and anyone who interacts
with the youth are also important in developing positive lifestyles for
children.
“One of the key roles of parents is to provide an environment at home
and place their children in environments at school and community
activities that promote positive growth and development,” said Greder.
Physical activity helps to promote positive growth and development
stressed Greder. It is important that activity is a natural part of a
child’s day. Greder suggests activities such as walking to school,
running around on the playground or in the back yard, and parents
actively playing with their children.
Communication is also key for success in changing a child’s lifestyle.
Families need to talk and identify ways they can spend time together,
have fun, and involve physical activity. Greder recommends activities
like taking a walk together, making a commitment to be on the computer
less, or watch TV less.
“Let kids be involved in meal planning and helping prepare food. Adults
can help kids learn about healthy food choices and let them be part of
decision-making,” said Greder.
There are multiple ways to implement this, such as thinking of new ways
to add fruits or vegetables into their eating or when grocery shopping
allow each child to pick out a new fruit or vegetable they have not
tried before.
For resources and more information visit the ISU Extension Online
Store, www.extension.iastate.edu/store/,
for
the free publication series on “Raising
Healthy
Kids.” ISU extension has information for communities
and parents for a variety of children ages including strategies and
activities for all types of families to tackle childhood obesity.
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