INDIANAPOLIS - October 6 marks the 80th annual Child Health Day, and the Maternal and Children's Special Health Care Services and the Nutrition and Physical Activity Division at the Indiana State Department of Health are challenging Hoosier parents, caregivers, teachers, and all adults to grapple with a serious health issue: childhood overweight and obesity.
Childhood obesity affects all children among all racial and ethnic groups. Indiana is in the top 10 states with the highest rates of childhood overweight and obesity. Approximately three of every 10 children living in Indiana are overweight or obese. Unfortunately, in certain racial and ethnic groups and for children living in poverty, this rate is closer to one in every two children in Indiana being overweight or obese.
"Indiana's obesity problem did not develop overnight and will not be solved overnight," said State Health Commissioner Judy Monroe, M.D. "However, there are some very simple steps that we can all take and changes we can make to live healthier lifestyles. Adults can teach children healthful eating habits and ways to stay active including going outside to play rather than watching television."
Dr. Monroe recommends adults follow these steps to address childhood obesity:
· Take the Child Health Day pledge to set a healthy example. When children see their parents, caregivers, and other adults enjoying healthy foods and being physically active, they are more likely to do the same.
· Think in terms of GO, SLOW, and WHOA foods:
o GO foods are the lowest in fat, sugar and relatively low in calories but rich in nutrients important to health. GO foods are great almost any time.
o SLOW foods are higher in fat, added sugar and calories than GO foods. Have SLOW foods sometimes or less often.
o WHOA foods are the highest in fat, added sugar and calories. They are also low in nutrients and should only be consumed once in a while, on special occasions, or in small portions.
· Use the Children and Teen BMI (Body Mass Index) Calculator to find out if your child is at risk for or already overweight or obese.
To calculate your child's BMI, visit http://apps.nccd.cdc.gov/dnpabmi/Calculator.aspx. For more information about childhood overweight and obesity and to take the pledge, visit http://mchb.hrsa.gov/childhealthday/.
"The health consequences for overweight and obese children are serious," said Dr. Monroe. "Overweight kids are at greater risk for asthma, diabetes, heart disease, and other chronic conditions. All children should be encouraged to stay active 60 minutes a day to maintain a healthy weight and avoid these problems."
Dr. Monroe suggests these simple ways to reach this goal:
· Create a log of physical activity for each member of the family. This will be an accurate representation on how your family spends their time.
· Limit TV time to less than two hours per day. Keep televisions out of children's bedrooms.
· Get active as a family. Walk your children to school. Take a family walk after dinner and every Saturday morning. Park farther from the store and walk.
In addition, Dr. Monroe is encouraging Hoosiers to fight obesity by supporting healthier schools. This year's INShape Indiana Health Summit will focus on how businesses, community organizations, health care providers, and others can work with schools to improve the health of Indiana's students. The event is open to the public, and will be held Wednesday, October 15 at the Indiana Memorial Union on the Indiana University campus in Bloomington. Registration starts at 8 a.m., and presentations start at 9 a.m.
###
« Back to News Release List
Link to this event: