Obesity: Beyond the Home Front
With nearly a third of American kids and teens overweight or
at risk of becoming overweight, it's clear that the battle to
control the obesity epidemic must be fought - and won - well
beyond the home front.
Schools, restaurants, retailers, food makers, and government
agencies joined the fight against childhood obesity in 2006.
Schools introduced a host of new wellness policies to improve
physical activity, nutrition education, and the food served at
school. Some schools worked to remove fast-food outlets, soda
machines, and food advertising from campus. The nation's three
largest soft drink companies announced they'd replace sodas in
schools with healthier alternatives. Meanwhile, there were
movements in New York and Chicago to outlaw trans fats in
restaurants and list nutrition information on menus.
What to Watch:
As programs to combat obesity begin to proliferate, attention
has turned toward monitoring them to find out what's working.
Ideally, that will result in support and expansion of programs that
prove effective for all populations. Now that obesity is recognized
as an epidemic and its threat to global health is more fully
understood, the battle against it is likely to penetrate every
corner of kids' lives ― from their school cafeterias and
classrooms to the commercials they see and the snacks they get on
sports fields.
For Kids:
What "Being Overweight" Means
What's the Right Weight for Me?
Nutrition & Fitness Center
For Teens:
How Can I Lose Weight Safely?
What's the Right Weight for My
Height?
Nutrition & Fitness Center
For Parents:
Overweight and Obesity
Your Child's Weight
Nutrition & Fitness Center
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Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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