New York Times Article: Health Sector Tackles Childhood Obesity

The percentage of overweight children in the United States is growing at an alarming rate, with 1 out of 3 kids now considered overweight or obese.

It's a stark statistic that has parents, educators, public health officials and policy makers scrambling to find ways to empower this next generation of young people to take control of their own future by teaching them how to eat healthfully, remain active and find a healthy weight that allows them to thrive and have a good quality of life.

Yesterday the New York Times published an article "Learning To Be Lean" by Reed Abelson highlighting how new federal health care laws are requiring more accountability from the companies and programs who work with young people (like their health insurers and employers) to screen for weight issues and provide preventative counseling. One of the interesting things that the article points out is the unique challenges that overweight children encounter:

"Children are still growing, and the goal of any program may be to help them grow into a healthier weight rather than to actually lose pounds. Experts also say that to be successful, programs need to focus on the family as a whole, changing what everybody eats and how much time they are all active, not sitting in front of a computer screen or television."

Several HCZ programs including the Health Living Initiative and Educated Eaters Project take on these issues and we're actually currently working to improve and expand the reach of our healthy eating, active living focus. What programs have you participated in? What have you found to be helpful interventions or preventative efforts in your own life or the lives of those you love?