Did you know?

23.5 million children and teens in the U.S are overweight or obese.

That equals out to about 1 in 8 preschoolers.

Overweight or obese children are 5 times more likely than average-weight children to be overweight or obese as adults. Obesity is linked to high blood sugar, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, asthma, and mental health problems.

Obese children are more at risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, and osteoarthritis as adults.

Society, including family, community, school, daycare, medical care providers, the media, food and beverage companies, religious institutions, and the media are all influential factors for a child’s wellbeing.

So, what can we do to reduce these numbers?

• Teach children about healthy living.

• Start with a healthy breakfast.

• Provide healthy meals and snacks during the day.

• Go for a walk or bike ride with your child everyday.

• Be a role model by eating healthy meals and snacks with your child.

• Make healthy living fun, and teach children when they are young!

You can find out more about healthy living and childhood obesity by visiting, www.cdc.gov.

YourTown Health supports education on healthy living. YourTown Health provides healthcare services from prenatal to geriatric. We’re here to help.