Childhood Obesity - Do you have an overweight child? We offer tips to help your child lose weight and get fit!

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.

Friday, September 24, 2010

Dramatic Rates of Childhood Overweight, Obesity in NYC

Forty percent of elementary school children in New York City are overweight and 22% are obese, according to a new study from the New York City Department of Education Office of School Wellness.

In some zip codes, over half the children are overweight. Nationally, 35% of children ages 6 to 11 years old are overweight, according to figures from United States Centers for Disease Control.

In the largest study ever of the New York city school system, researchers used Fitnessgram assessments of more than 635,000 children in grades kindergarten through eighth. Fitnessgrams are personal health evaluations based on strength, endurance, flexibility, and body mass index.

"While it would be great if we saw the numbers go down, it is encouraging that they are holding steady," said Laurie Benson, director of the Office of School Wellness.
 

Labels: childhood_obesity, elementary_school_students

Posted By: Jane St. Clair

Comments:

Chelsea on 10/22/2010
The idea of making physical fitness fun is a good one. I remember the fun things we did in p.e. classes in school didn't seem like a lot of work, although it was good exercise. Helping kids connect having a good time with exercise can go a long way.
Devin on 10/11/2010
I saw a news report about a program that brings fitness into to the classroom and I think is a really good idea. Kids are just not getting the exercise they need anymore and not eating right The campaign reinvents recess by pairing dance instructors with schools to increase students activity through creative movement. Until recently, the program was only implemented in Connecticut schools but is now available to schools across the country. As part of the launch of the program, a nationwide video contest has been announced for children and young teens in grades 2 through 8 across the United States in addressing childhood obesity. I found this information on their site, www.recessrocks.com.
Kensington on 10/4/2010
I'm curious what the parents' reactions are to this. It's something that needs addressing from parents and schools alike. There needs to be a fundamental shift in people's ability to recognize and realistically address a child who has a weight problem.