Help Kids Understand Their Weight During Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
The YMCA of Greater Flint wants families in Flint to understand how a child’s perception of their weight impacts their health – and what to do about it
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and while the dangers of childhood obesity are well-chronicled, many children who are overweight or obese don’t realize it. That’s why the YMCA of Greater Health — a leading voice on improving health— wants families to understand the role weight perception plays in childhood obesity and ways to reverse course through increased physical activity and improved eating habits.
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Health Statistics says about 30 percent of children and adolescents aged 8–15 in the United States misperceive their weight, with approximately 81 percent of overweight boys and 71 percent of overweight girls believing they are about the right weight. Genesee County is ranked 81 out of 82 counties in Michigan for healthy outcomes according to University of Wisconsin Public Health Institute[1]. “Childhood obesity negatively impacts a child’s health and wellbeing by increasing their risk for various diseases and ailments including diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, cancer, cardiovascular disease, bone and joint problems, sleep apnea and social and psychological problems,” stated Danielle Campbell, Community Wellness Manager at Hurley Medical Center. “Children who are overweight and obese are also likely to be obese as an adult.”
Campbell adds, “Healthy lifestyle habits, such as regular physical activity and healthy eating can lower their risk of becoming obese. Focusing on health as a family is one of the most effective ways for children to be successful with weight loss or weight maintenance. It is important for their family to role model healthy behaviors and give them the support needed.”
The following tips are some great ways to incorporate more activity and healthier eating habits into your daily family routine:
· Eat Healthy: Make water the drink of choice (supplemented by age-appropriate portions of 100 percent fruit juices and low-fat milk) and make it easy for everyone to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options. Feel free to mix and match fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables to provide variety.
· Play Every Day/Go Outside: Kids should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity.
· Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible with kids involved in meal preparation and clean up. In addition, adults should take a break from electronics and spend one-on-one time each day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company.
· Reduce Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, tablet, cell phone or video games should be limited to two hours per day.
· Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule—10-12 hours per night for kids and seven to eight hours for adults.
· Hurley Wellness Services offers an affordable Healthy Family Living Program to teach families healthy behaviors and promote lifestyle changes to give children a healthier tomorrow.
In addition to being healthy at home, there is a need to maintain healthy habits while in childcare, school or at out-of-school programs. To create healthy environments in out-of-school programs, the YMCA of Greater Flint is implementing Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards in our Safe Places FREE After School Program as part of the Y’s commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America.
The steps taken by the Y include:
· Provide a fruit and/or vegetable at all meals and snacks.
· Only provide milk and water as beverages.
· Set limits on screen time.
· Provide daily physical activity, outdoors when possible.
· Have adults model healthy food and beverage choices and active play.
Additionally, the Y offers many sport programs year round that are designed for youth. These programs include private and group swim lessons, basketball classes, soccer, and Incredible Youth Group Fitness class.
To learn more about programs at the YMCA of Greater please call 810.232.9622 or visit www.flintymca.org. To learn about the Healthy Family Living Program call 844.WELL4ME (844-935-5463) for more information.
