By Dr. Tamara Sheffield
Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States - with about one in three children or teens overweight or obese, according to the American Heart Association. Fortunately, much of it is preventable, and a free national campaign - called the LiVe Campaign - is working to make prevention a reality of its own.
It's crucial to prevent childhood obesity, because obese children have a 70-80 percent chance of being overweight for their entire life. Those who are overweight and obese face such other health risks as increased chance of heart disease, stroke and diabetes. More than 85 percent of people with Type 2 Diabetes are overweight. Additionally, there is an increased rate of certain types of cancer.
The LiVe Campaign has been created by Intermountain Healthcare, the Utah-based healthcare system frequently cited as one of the leading healthcare systems in the nation. The Campaign uses an interactive website - with games and videos, tips and advice - to engage children and teens with a funny, irreverent, but always positive, message that encourages them to eat healthier and be more active. Intermountain Healthcare has also launched a free LiVe Campaign app for mobile devices, now available at the iTunes Store and Android Market. The website and app are both designed for kids and teens to learn important nutrition information while having fun.
Here are some tips for parents from Intermountain Healthcare and the LiVe campaign:
For more information on healthy eating habits and fun ways to exercise, visit the LiVe Campaign at www.IntermountainLiVe.org [3].
Source: Intermountan Healthcare
Posted May 11, 2011
Links:
[1] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/3037
[2] https://mail.momsteam.com/node/1483
[3] http://www.IntermountainLiVe.org
[4] https://mail.momsteam.com/childhood-obesity/fighting-childhood-obesity-what-parents-can-do-help
[5] https://mail.momsteam.com/health-safety/fighting-obesity-goal-national-activity-plan
[6] https://mail.momsteam.com/healthy-living-time-to-listen-to-our-kids