Obesity Awareness 2014

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Created on Friday, 03 October 2014 13:40
Written by Nick Aresco

dietlady finalAROUND THE NEK- Last month was National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and since the 1980s, obesity in young children has been on the increase in our country. 

Doctors are stepping up and helping not only children become more aware, but parents too. Since obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholestrol or high blood pressure, it's important to try and prevent it at an early age.

Sharon Anderson, a Registered Dietitian from the Northeastern Vermont Regional Hospital in Saint Johnbury, says that there are easy changes that children can make to help prevent this ongoing issue. Cutting down on drinks that are high in calories, increasing their amount of exercise, and managing their food portions , just to name a few. 

"We don't focus so much on their weight, but really their lifestyle and just developing good healthy habits for a lifetime. Obesity can also be influenced by our culture. Children will eat what is offered to them, and sometimes that is not the healthiest option," Anderson says. 

In Pre-schools, the obesity rate is starting to level-off, which is a sign of progress. This means that schools are realizing that they too play an important role in a child's diet. For example, many schools are now incorperating healthier meals into their lunches.  

Looking at a statistic from the American Heart Association; one in three children born after the year 2000 will develop type two diabetes, which is why making this issue aware to the public, can save lives.