“Children who have obesity are at greater risk for diseases such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease, which have a significant impact on health and healthcare costs. Obesity can also increase the risk for severe symptoms of COVID-19, even among children. Additionally, decades of data show that children of color and those growing up furthest from economic opportunity are at greatest risk for obesity.”
--Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Please consider these realities:
- Adult obesity rates continue to increase. Four in 10 adults in the US are obese.
- Youth age 2-19 obesity rates continue to increase. One in 5 children and adolescents in the US have obesity.
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
parents can do 5 things at home to prevent childhood obesity:
1. Eat rainbows
2. Move
more
3. Slow
down on sugar
4. Limit
screen time
5. Sleep
well
We can ALL benefit from using these suggestions to live
healthier lives every day. Growing Healthy Kids is focused on creating solutions to reverse and prevent childhood obesity
and building partnerships with others committed to ensure that all children
have access to healthy foods.
There is an urgency to end this childhood obesity crisis and protect children’s health and lives. For example, children diagnosed with type 2 diabetes can expect to have a shorter life by 15-17 years.
Together, we can do great
things to improve the health – and lives – of America’s children.
With love and kindness,
Nancy Heinrich, MPH
Founder and Wellness Architect
Photo above: Kids at a Growing Healthy Kids workshop getting ready to visit the Vero Beach Farmers Market
