Tuesday, September 18, 2018

๐ŸŽ National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

One in 5 children in the United States are obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.
The good news? Childhood obesity can be prevented. Communities, health professionals, and families can work together to create opportunities for kids to eat healthier and get more active.

Make a difference for kids: spread the word about strategies for preventing childhood obesity and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

๐ŸŽHow can National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic and show people how they can help work towards a solution.
Here are just a few ideas:
  • Encourage families to make small changes, like keeping fresh fruit within reach or going on a family walk after dinner.
  • Motivate teachers and administrators to make schools healthier. Help them provide healthy food options and daily physical activities for students.
  • Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by supporting programs to prevent childhood obesity.

๐ŸŽHow can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:
National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month offers opportunities for families to prevent childhood obesity early and to address the issue early. Children who have obesity issues are more likely to have those same issues as adults. Addressing them now prevents lifelong health issues such as diabetes, certain cancers, heart and sleep disorders.
Children with obesity may face physical, emotional and financial obstacles in the future, as well.

Of course, nobody knows exact numbers about things like obesity, because that would be impossible. And how much would it mean to people anyway? If they’re not concerned about the approximate figure of close to one in five American youth being obese, would an exact number really make any difference?
If 20 out of 100 is not an impressive statistic, would throwing a few more zeroes and decimal points into the mix actually improve comprehension? Could a sense of urgency be cultivated by a fancier number that basically means the same as one-fifth?
What kind of terms would people need to be addressed with, to take this thing seriously? Here is a teaching aid. A hand has five fingers. If somebody comes along and chops off one of those fingers, what’s the problem? After all, you still have four left. Or what if a friend who owes you $5,000, hands you $4,000, and asks, “Are we good?”

๐ŸŽNational Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

No, we are not good. If one fifth of America’s children are too heavy to be healthy, it’s definitely a situation. These kids will probably wind up with type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and/or heart disease — if they don’t suffer from those or other conditions already.
Repeatedly, journalists and thought influencers pound away at the horrible fiscal reality. Obesity-related costs just devastate public health budgets. Even the most enlightened countries, with the most highly refined sense of responsibility for the greatest public good are floored by the crushing expense of medical care.
Of course, officials have to talk about the cost of the obesity epidemic, because they are in charge of spending the people’s money, and they have to put it to good use. Talking about money is part of the public servants’ job, and really, all citizens should think about how our actions affect the tax burden. Big numbers attract people’s attention, and can even be said to raise awareness.
Sometimes we forget to consider the personal ramifications of this problem. One child in five copes with the side effects of obesity, whether it’s strictly personal, like sweating in inconvenient places, or painfully apparent, like being teased or bullied.

๐ŸŽEarly care and education

The Administration for Children and Families is a government body concerned with early care and education. Children who are in day care are essentially in a second home, a place where they eat, nap, play, and learn to relate to others. The providers of early care and education in these settings are charged with exercising the same level of care that ideally would be practiced by the best parents for the sake of their own children.
Care providers are urged to collaborate with other community programs; figure out ways to incorporate the most movement into teaching; talk with kids about what they are eating and let them in on the preparation if possible. Even such concepts as hand-washing are sometimes necessary to include.
As always, it is important to remember that the younger a child is when a habit is acquired, the better it will stick. And the younger a child is when she or he crosses the line into obesity, the harder it is to shake off.

Blogger: Egypt Assanti
ESD Baroness
(aka) Big Sister Southern Heat ๐ŸŽ

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