Lori Comshaw was actively involved in her running group in Washington State. When she moved to Georgia, she discovered that her city didn't have a running program for young people.

"She decided to create a program to give kids a chance to become marathon runners...The Aiken Parks and Recreation Department's two-month running program challenges children from kindergarten through fifth grade to run a mile a day, and up to five miles a week, from Aug. 22 to Oct 25."

The program culminates in a 1.2 mile run, brining the kids' total miles up to 26.2 - equal to a marathon. All the children get T-shirts and a race number, and they run the final 1.2 miles together. Source: The Augusta Chronicle

Labels: exercise, fitness

Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics made news by recommending statin drugs and cholesterol-screenings for at-risk children ages 2 to 19 years old.

Now a new study shows that hundreds of thousands of children are already taking cholesterol-lowering drugs or medications to treat diabetes, high blood pressure, or acid reflux - all conditions related to obesity.

Three major drug companies estimated that about 1 percent of their sales of such drugs are for pediatric patients. The number of children taking them could be as high as 4 million.

The biggest increase is in children being treated for Type 2 diabetes, with drug usage increasing 137 percent in seven years.

Dr. Francine Kaufman, a pediatric endocrinologist in Los Angeles, said, "Children deserve to be treated. I think the slant from most of the media is that pediatricians are jumping to put kids on medications. That's not true at all. Since lifestyle is so difficult, we have no other choice but to go to pharmacotherapy."

Labels: anti-obesity, medications, pills

In September and October, more than 70 U.S. cities will host a "Walk from Obesity" event to raise both awareness and money for the fight against obesity.

"In 2007, the Walk raised more than $750,000 to support the ASMBS Foundation and its research and professional education initiatives, and the patient and general public educational and advocacy programs the Obesity Action Coalition (OAC). To date, the Walk has provided nearly 2.3 million dollars in overall support."

Walks are happening in cities throughout the nation. Individuals who are interested in participating or supporting walkers can find more information at www.walkfromobesity.com. Source: PR Newswire

Labels: advocacy, community, walking

Proper nutrition during adolescence is vital for girls' healthy development into adulthood. But studies have found that few teenage girls get enough fiber, calcium, iron, zinc, magnesium, or vitamins A, E, and B. Most also get too much sodium and saturated fat.

"One study showed that about 80 percent of kids who were overweight from ages 10 to 15 will be overweight as adults, and another found that 25 percent of obese adults were overweight kids. These children are at risk for weight-related health problems in the future..."

On average, girls between the ages of 14 and 18 should consume between 2,200 and 2,400 calories a day. While cutting calories may help an overweight teen shed a few pounds, it needs to be done healthfully to ensure that proper nutrition isn't compromised. Source: Reuters

Labels: development, girls, nutrition

Louisa May Alcott Elementary School lunches won't feature the typical school cafeteria fare this year. Instead of processed foods such as hamburgers, chicken nuggets and pizza, students will be enjoying organic foods made from scratch with locally produced ingredients.

"[Chef Greg] Christian started the OSP [Organic School Project] in response to his own daughter's health problems, hoping to bring awareness to childhood obesity, early onset type II diabetes, and behavioral problems. He believes that if children reconnect with their food source they'll be more willing to try healthier foods."

Children at the school will also help create and sustain a fruit and vegetable garden, and will learn the benefits of composting and recycling. The program, which is scheduled to run for the 2008-2009 school year, will be the first of its kind to also study the effects of more holistic approaches to obesity prevention. Source: ConsciousChoice.com

Labels: healthy_eating, organic, schools

The average American child spends 24 hours a week watching television, plus an ever-increasing amount of time staring into a computer monitor. As getting kids up and moving becomes harder and harder, what's a parent to do?

"Make exercise a family affair. Plan active family outings, like trips to the zoo or the playground, bike rides, or playing ball together. Take long walks after dinner and set goals as a family for distance or time. It's a great way to spend time together, and including all family members prevents a child from feeling singled out."

Assign chores that are active (like washing the car or vacuuming) and provide toys that encourage activity as well. Above all, regulate television and computer time. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends no more than two hours per day. Source: Tampa Bay Online

Labels: activity, exercise, TV

Prescription data from three organizations shows that a growing number of American children are taking medications for obesity-related conditions.

"The numbers... indicate that hundreds of thousands of children are taking medication to treat type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and acid reflux - all problems linked to obesity that were practically unheard of in children two decades ago."

The greatest increase was in type 2 diabetes medication, which saw a 151 percent jump between 2001 and 2007. Source: The New York Times

Labels: diabetes, medications, side-effects

A new web-based kids program is taking parents out of the kitchen and teaching young kids how to cook healthy meals for themselves. The show is hosted by children, and was created by JAG Entertainment in Universal City, CA.

"Jr. Chefs of America plans to educate and present an innovative substitute to the fast food nation that is largely responsible for the rising [obesity] epidemic... Each episode promises to teach kids how to properly and safely prepare quick and delicious recipes..."

The show was inspired by Michael Green, whose son has been helping him in the kitchen since he was five years old. Source: JAG Entertainment

Labels: cooking, healthy_eating, TV

Dr. Goutham Rao, who directs the Weight Management and Wellness Center at Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh, says fewer than half of parents who are told their child is overweight will ever do anything about it. Some don't think their children are truly at risk, while others simply don't know where to start.

"On face, most of the advice is common sense: eat right and exercise. But for many families, the changes constitute nothing less than lifestyle upheaval... For a parent, the most difficult step is making habits that stick... 'We don't advocate changing everything overnight,' said Rao..."

Instead of advising families to implement large-scale changes, physicians recommend that they take gradual steps that can lead to long-term improvements. Source: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Labels: habits, healthy_living, parents

A study that was published in the July 16, 2008, edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association found that though 90 percent of 9-year-olds get an average two hours of physical activity a day, less than 3 percent of 15-year-olds are that active. Researchers who participated in the study monitored the physical activity of 1,000 children from 2000 to 2006.

"The study suggests that fewer than a third of [15-year-olds] get even the minimum recommended by the government - an hour of moderate-to-vigorous exercise..."

Lead author Philip Nader says people don't recognize this for the crisis it is, citing the drop in activity as one of the primary contributors to childhood obesity. Source: Clarion Ledger (Mississippi)

Labels: activity, exercise, teenagers

Should eight-year-olds take anti-cholesterol medications? Yes, say new guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics.

The new advice calls for doctors to screen all children ages two to ten for risk factors of heart disease (such as childhood obesity or family histories). If a child's cholesterol readings are too high, and if lifestyle changes such as better diet and more exercise do not help, then the AAP advises doctors to prescribe statin drugs - even to children as young as eight.

"We're in an epidemic," said Dr. Jatinder Bhatia, professor of neonatology at the Medical College of Georgia. "The risk of giving statins at a lower age is less than the benefit you're going to get out of it."

Others disagree, with many pointing out that because the drugs have only been around since the mid-1980s, no one is sure of the long-term effects they may have on the children to whom they are given.

Labels: cholesterol, medications, pediatricians

Spending more than sixteen hours per week online, not getting enough sleep, and drinking too much increase a teenaged girl's chances of gaining weight, according to a new study from Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Catherine Berkey examined lifestyle factors as they pertain to a teen's gaining weight over the course of one year. Using records from over 5,000 girls ages 14 to 21 years, Berkey determined the following:

• Girls who spent long hours of recreational time on the Internet had a 57 percent risk of gaining at least four pounds a year.


• Sleeping fewer than five hours a night and drinking more than two glasses of alcohol a week was also associated with weight gain.


• Coffee drinking was not associated with weight gain.

This study appears in the Journal of Pediatrics.

Labels: factors, research, weight_gain

An eight-year study of 26,000 Greek citizens found that eating a "Mediterranean" diet reduces cancer risks by 22 percent. This diet such includes the following habits: consuming less red meat and dairy products, using olive oil instead of butter, and eating more fruits and vegetables. The researchers found that individuals who followed this plan had lowered rates for several types of cancer, including cervix, bowel, stomach, liver, and brain.

"Of the thousands of people we studied, those who followed a Mediterranean diet were overall less likely to develop cancer," said Harvard University professor Dimitrios Trichopoulos.

Labels: cancer, diet, healthy_eating

Nine year-old children are active for more than three hours a day - but by age fifteen, individual activity levels drop to less than 45 minutes per day, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Researchers found that only a third of teenagers got the recommended minimum one hour a day of aerobic exercise, and that age 13 was the year that activity levels dropped off dramatically. Things got worse on weekends, too, when activity decreased from 49 minutes a day to 30.

The scientists speculated that older teens tend to watch television or play videos with friends, rather than pursuing active games.

"I was surprised by the degree of the drop. It’s a dramatic shift," said Dr. James Griffin of the National Institute’s Center for Research for Mothers and Children. "Younger children appear to be naturally active, but as kids get older, they find fewer opportunities to be active."

The study, led by Dr. Philip Nader, a professor of pediatrics at University of California, San Diego, tracked over 1,000 American children from 2000 to 2006, providing them with devices that recorded their movement.

Labels: activity, exercise, teenagers

An influential group of doctors from the American Academy of Pediatrics has caused a heated debate by recommending that some children as young as eight be given the cholesterol-lowering medication statins. Statins has been shown to lower cholesterol in adults, but its effects on children are not well-known.

"The authors of the recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics concluded that there is enough indirect evidence to suggest that starting treatment early makes sense in children with extremely high levels of cholesterol... They call for cholesterol testing for millions of children ages 2 to 10 who have a family history of early heart disease or have other risk factors such as being overweight or having high blood pressure."

Under the recommended guidelines, less than one percent of children would be considered for the medication. Despite that, many doctors and other medical experts warn that too little is known about how statins affect children. Others are concerned that medication will replace preventative programs that focus on diet and exercise. Source: The Morning Call

Labels: cholesterol, medications

The Missouri Council for Activity and Nutrition (MoCAN) recently revised its voluntary nutrition guidelines for public schools, and is now asking the public to weigh in on the Missouri Eat Smart Guidelines.

"MoCAN's first set of school nutrition guidelines, published in 2005, outlined three levels of nutrition standards for schools: minimum, intermediate and advanced. The revised guidelines add a fourth category, the exemplary level, as a higher standard for school nutrition."

The public is invited to comment on the guidelines through August, at which time MoCAN will review all submissions. The final draft of the recommendations will be released in September. Source: EMaxHealth

Labels: community, nutrition, schools

An increase in childhood obesity rates and a decline in healthful eating options have prompted a Los Angeles city official to propose a moratorium on new fast food restaurants in the city.

"The proposed ordinance, which takes a page from boutique communities that turn up their noses at franchises, is supported by nutritionists, frustrated residents and community activists who call restrictive zoning an appropriate response..."

Many experts have cited large discrepancies in the types of restaurants available in different parts of town as evidence that such a proposal is needed. Source: The Washington Post

Labels: fast_food, healthy_eating, legislation