This information about childhood obesity comes from the Get Moving! web site and is Michelle Obama’s initiative.
The childhood obesity problem
Here are some facts about childhood obesity:
- Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled
- Nearly 1 in 3 children in America are overweight or obese
- 1/3 of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives
- Other chronic obesity-related health problems include heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma
- A recent study put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year.
- Obesity is now one of the most common reasons people are disqualified for military service.
The Let’s Move! campaign aims to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation. The idea is to come up with common sense, innovative solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids. One of those is taking the kids to the playground this summer.
Try getting the kids to a playground. When I was little I played ‘kick the can’ almost every night. We also played badminton in the back yard until it was so dark we couldn’t see the birdie anymore.
This web site has some other games you could play: http://www.playgroundfun.org.uk/
The next few posts will have more ways to get moving with your kids and how to encourage your community and schools to join in. Please tell us your favorite playground game.
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Tags: Health, Michelle Obama, Obesity, playground
