Health And Medicine Division

What would you say is the biggest problem facing our children today? The Childhood Obesity Prevention team at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (Children's) developed the training and educational tools. Prevention and management of obesity requires synchronized efforts to improve diet and induce the physical efforts in the early years of children at schools, in families and communities.

Children in certain minority ethnic populations (including African Americans, American Indians, and Hispanics), children in low-income families, and children in the country's southern region tend to have higher rates of obesity than the rest of the population.

In one Girl Scout program, for example, girls who participated with their troops in nutrition classes, which included tasting sessions and sending foods home, were found to consume more fruits and vegetables on a regular basis. Despite these limitations, the popularity of school-based interventions is not surprising; there are many benefits to the school environment as a context for intervention programs for children.

Childhood Obesity can lead to all sorts of problems, from cardiovascular disease and bone trouble to social and psychological trauma. Teaching kids the right way to exercise is important for building lifelong habits and preventing childhood obesity Making sure exercise is fun shows kids being healthy and staying active can be just as fun as those more sedentary activities.

Below, learn how to calculate your child's risk for being overweight or obese, and the health risks it poses. Obese children have Childhood Obesity greater chance of developing diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and high blood pressure. By the end of the course, you will be able to set goals to promote healthy behaviours in the children you care for and monitor their progress over time.