Peters blog

• #child care
• #childhood obesity
• #children's health
• #healthy environment
• #home
• #Peter’s Principles Blog
• #school

Obesity in Children

A new study found that obese elementary school children miss more school days than their average weight classmates. In addition, school officials found that the more days of school children miss, the greater their chances for truancy and long-term negative outcomes such as drugs and crime. Youth obesity rates have nearly quintupled among 6 to 11 year olds and tripled among teens and children ages 2 to 5.  Obesity in childhood overwhelmingly leads to continuing health problems in adulthood with approximately eighty percent of children who are overweight at aged 10–15 years being obese at the age of 25. Another study found that twenty five percent of obese adults were overweight as children. We all want our children to live healthy, happy lives and it's important that we offer them an environment where they can grow into productive, satisfied adults.  To accomplish this goal we need to offer our children: Healthy Homes. Parents are role models for their children who are likely to develop habits similar to their parents.  Live a healthy life! Healthy Child Care. Preschool children with working parents spend 40 hours plus each week in child care, so be sure your care provider maintains a setting in which healthy eating and physical activity habits are developed.  Not sure what your child is eating when you're at work?  Pack a snack! Healthy Schools. Schools provide an ideal setting for teaching children and teens to adopt healthy lifestyles. Get involved!