My Overweight Child

The My Overweight Child blog will help you keep informed about the latest research, findings, and resources available to parents of overweight or obese kids. There are many knowledgeable people working on the increasingly dire problem of childhood obesity - and we want to give parents a place where they can check in regularly to see the latest studies and tips available to help you help your child lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle.

We invite you to add your comments - if you have feedback for the blog, would like some specific topics covered, or you just want to share your experience as a parent dealing with childhood obesity.

Thursday, September 28, 2006

Childhood Obesity Now a Concern for the FCC

FCC Chairman Kevin Martin is worried that the rise in childhood obesity may be due to too much TV by most of today's kids. The combination between too little physical exercise and ads targeted at children concerns parents, doctors, and now, the FCC.

"Martin cited reports showing the average child watches 2 to 4 hours of TV per day and views about 40,000 TV ads every year, most of them for cereal, candy, toys and fast food. Earlier this month, the Institute of Medicine found that one-third of American children are either obese or at risk for becoming obese. At the same time, American companies spend about $15 billion a year marketing and advertising to children under age 12."

Read more about the FCC's plan to study the link between childhood obesity and the food, television, and advertising industries from the Rockford Register Star.

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Friday, September 29, 2006

Video Game Hopes to Reduce Childhood Obesity

Playskool's new ION Educational Gaming System, for children ages 3 to 7, only works when kids dance, wave, and move around. While they get physically active, they also learn about colors, numbers, and letter.

"Kids dance with the characters from "Blues Clues," play soccer goalie with "Dora the Explorer," and cook with "SpongeBob SquarePants"."

Learn more about the way the ION works and they ways it can help curb childhood obesity from The Daily Advertiser.

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Tuesday, September 26, 2006

Strategies for Combating Childhood Obesity

The Los Angeles Times published an article with tips for parents of overweight children. Since nearly one-third of our children and teens are either obese or at risk of become obese. Experts say that not enough is being done to control childhood obesity and until public health agencies start to help, parents are on their own. Read on for helpful strategies to combat childhood obesity.

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Tuesday, September 19, 2006

Despite Attempts by States and Schools, Childhood Obesity on the Rise

A report published earlier this month by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) shows that our efforts to combat childhood obesity are failing. At least one-third of American children and youth are either currently considered obese or at risk of becoming obese. The study also found that rates of childhood obesity are on the rise and the levels of sedentary teenagers are also increasing. Despite the fact that more states and schools are trying to implement changes to combat childhood obesity, the report found that their attempts simply aren't working. Read more from NPR.

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Friday, September 15, 2006

Getting Kids Moving Helps Combat Childhood Obesity

The American Academy of Pediatrics says that kids must get at least an hour of physical exercise every day to combat the effects of childhood obesity. Experts suggest that kids find activities that they enjoy so that exercise doesn't seem like a chore. When children participate in an activity that they like, they'll do it more often and learn to enjoy an active lifestyle. Read more tips to get kids fit through exercise online.

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Thursday, September 14, 2006

Parents of Obese Kids Need All the Help They Can Get

Parents of overweight children struggle everyday to get their kids to eat healthy and choose food that is good for them. With fast-food and other unhealthy snacks and food so accessible to kids, many parents say schools must do their part - in the cafeteria and in the gym. Read more from MSNBC.com.

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Sunday, September 03, 2006

Lower IQ Could Be Due to Childhood Obesity

Preliminary findings by a professor of pediatrics at the University of Florida show that children who are obese by age 4 are at risk of having lower IQ scores. Participants were more than 150% over their ideal weight and did not have a genetic disorder causing their obesity. Read more about the connection between childhood obesity and intelligence online.

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Friday, September 01, 2006

Kids Need More Than Just Longer PE Periods

A Cornell (N.Y.) University study suggests that increasing physical education time in schools is not enough to prevent childhood obesity, especially in girls who aren't normally active. Researchers reached that conclusion because they found that if children had longer periods of physical fitness at school, they reduced their activities outside of school. Read more from the United Press.

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