Promote Healthy Eating Habits From the Start
Obesity rates have increased for children in recent
decades as diets high in salt, sugar and fat have become the norm, and
as children have become less physically active than prior generations.
But obesity in young children has many long-term implications for their
health and well-being, as well as for the nation’s economy.
More than two-thirds of adults in the United States are
considered obese, and nearly one in three children. Children who are
overweight or obese between ages 3 and 5 are five times as likely to be
overweight or obese as adults.
Obesity is linked to more than 60 chronic diseases,
including cancer, heart disease, diabetes and high blood pressure.
Additionally, children who are overweight or obese face stigma from
peers, may have difficulty concentrating in school and suffer higher
rates of depression.
Treating obesity and its related illnesses is expensive.
In the United States today we spend an average of $168 billion a year to
treat illnesses related to obesity. In fact, almost 17 percent of our
nation’s health care costs are directly attributed to obesity.
There is some good news, however. A recent study by the
Center for Disease Control found that obesity rates among low-income
preschoolers has declined in 19 states. The decline was mostly seen in
white children, but showed promise among other groups as well, and may
be due to increased awareness among parents as well as policy shifts in
state and federal nutrition programs.
There is a lot that parents and caregivers can do to
ensure that babies and young children experience healthy weight gain.
Breastfeeding, not introducing solid foods too early, promoting good
sleep habits, cooking food at home, and providing a wide range of
healthy foods like fruits, vegetables, proteins and grains are good ways
for parents to encourage healthy weight gain. Communities can also be
instrumental in helping children stay healthy by promoting places to
exercise, like parks, and by taking steps to encourage physical
education programs and recess in schools.
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