September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

In honor of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, we wanted to share today’s outlook on children and obesity. If childhood obesity rates continue to climb, the current generation of young people could be the first in U.S. history to live sicker and die younger than their parent’s generation.

Below are some striking statistics from Let’s Move!, First Lady Michelle Obama’s initiative to solve the challenge of childhood obesity, about the status, trends and long-term impact of childhood obesity:

I. Childhood obesity is a serious epidemic in our society

• Childhood obesity rates have tripled over the past 30 years

• Today about 1 in every 3 American children is overweight or obese

• Nearly 40% of African American and Hispanic children are overweight or obese

II. Childhood obesity can lead to long-term health problems

• 1/3 of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes during their lifetime

• Many children will have a higher risk of obesity-related health problems like heart disease and cancer

III. We need to attack obesity by encouraging healthy eating and active lifestyles

• Only 1/3 of high school students get the recommended daily 60 minutes or more of physical activity

• People eat 31% more calories than they did 40 years ago

• Today the average American eats 15 more pounds of sugar annually than in 1970

The facts are grim, but families and schools can protect kids from obesity by limiting their access to junk foods and sugary beverages and encouraging them to be more physically active. We compiled eight ways schools can combat childhood obesity and foster healthy environments for students this school year, from NEA Health Information Network:

1. Make sure your school wellness policy promotes healthy snacks and meals and facilitates exercise during the school day.

2. Launch a “Safe Routes to School” program so kids and their parents feel more comfortable heading to school on foot or by bike.

3. Weave fun physical activity into classroom lessons as well as into before and after-school programs.

4. Build a school garden so kids can learn where fresh produce comes from and get excited about healthy food options.

5. Support healthier options in vending machines, school stores, cafeteria a la carte lines and fundraisers so kids have limited access to junk foods and sugary beverages.

6. Participate in the USDA’s Healthier US School Challenge, which rewards schools that foster healthy environments with high quality, healthy foods, nutrition education, and more.

7. Establish joint-use agreements with local community parks and playgrounds so kids have a safe, fun place to exercise.

8. Get inspired by other schools’ creative ideas for helping kids establish healthy lifestyles by checking out Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Action for Healthy Kids, and the National Farm to School Network.

For more strategies on fighting childhood obesity, read our past blog posts.

Is your school taking steps to create a healthy environment? Share with us your accomplishments and how your school is celebrating National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Tweet us @BagtheJunk or comment on our Facebook page.