Childhood obesity or excess weight threatens the healthy future of one third of American children. Childhood obesity alone accounts for $14 billion annually in direct health expenses, and that number is growing.
We need to get moving.
It’s time for families, schools, private industry, and government to come together to make healthy living easier. With greater understanding and opportunities for good nutrition and physical activity, we can take simple steps so our children can live healthier lives.
Healthy Choices
Parents play a key role in making healthy choices for their children because the earliest decisions regarding food and physical activity occur in the home. But in today’s busy world, it isn’t always easy. Parents and other caregivers need a community of support. Children learn from the choices they see adults make. If children see parents enjoying nutritious foods and physical activity, they’re more likely to do the same.
Healthy, well-nourished kids are better prepared mentally and physically to take on the day. Good nutrition begins at home, so talk to your child about making healthy food and beverage choices and model those healthy behaviors yourself. Also look for creative and inexpensive ways to celebrate with your kids rather than using food as a reward.
Too often, school age children are not eating the recommended level of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products. The
It’s critical that we make healthy living easier across
Healthier Schools
Many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school. As families work to ensure our kids eat right and have active play at home, we also need to ensure our kids have access to healthy meals in their schools. With more than 31 million children participating in the National School Lunch Program and more than 11 million participating in the National School Breakfast Program, good nutrition at school is more important than ever. Let’s Move to get healthier food in our nation’s schools.
Physical Activity
Children need 60 minutes of active and vigorous play every day to grow up to a healthy weight. To increase physical activity, today’s children need safe routes to walk and ride to school, parks, playgrounds and community centers where they can play and be active after school, and sports, dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging to keep them engaged. So, Let’s Move to increase opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school and create new opportunities for families to be moving together. The
Accessible & Affordable Healthy Food
Where kids and families live plays a major role in how healthy their lifestyles are. More than 23 million Americans, including 6.5 million children, live in low-income urban and rural neighborhoods that are more than a mile from a supermarket. These communities, where access to affordable, quality, and nutritious foods is limited, are known as food deserts.