This document discusses the rise in childhood obesity and provides solutions for families to address it. Some key points: - The number of overweight children has doubled in the past 30 years, with 1 in 5 US children now overweight. - Being overweight increases children's risks for health issues like heart disease, diabetes, and poor self-esteem. - Factors contributing to childhood obesity include lack of exercise, high fat/low nutrition foods, and poor lifestyle choices. - The document provides suggestions for families to incorporate physical activity and healthy eating habits, such as playing games, doing chores, and making better snack choices.

1. Keeping Fit:
It’s Family Fun!

2. Childhood Obesity on the Rise
• In the past 30 years, • Overweight is
the number of regarded as the most
overweight children common nutritional
has doubled. disorder in American
children.
• It is estimated that
one in five children
in the U.S. is
overweight.

3. Consequences of Childhood Obesity
Overweight children are at
a greater risk for:
• Heart disease
• Joint problems
• Sleep apnea
• Poor self-esteem
• Hypertension • Concerned about your
child’s weight? Visit the
• Type 2 diabetes
pediatrician for an expert
• Early puberty evaluation of his or her
• Depression height, weight, and
growth patterns.

4. Why Children Are Overweight
• Lack of exercise – as our kids’ activity levels
have decreased, their waistlines have
increased.
• High fat/low nutrition food – prepackaged,
processed, and take-out foods often replace
the healthy, balanced meals our kids should be
eating.
• While genetics can occasionally be a factor,
poor lifestyle choices are typically the culprit.

5. Solutions
• Luckily, parents hold the key to raising fit,
healthy kids! By incorporating simple
activities and healthy eating into the
family routine, parents can help their
children reach and maintain an
appropriate weight.

6. Fun Ways to Get Your Family Moving
• Play classic games like red light/green light,
tag, and hopscotch.
• Swing like a monkey, climb like a spider, then
stretch like a cat when you’re done.
• Sweep, weed, shovel, and clean up – chores
are exercise, too.
• Keep equipment handy for impromptu use –
toss a Frisbee and a kickball in your trunk.

7. Making Good Food Choices
Do This . . . Not That!
Eat snacks and meals at regularly Grab whatever you can, whenever
scheduled times. you can.
Be a good food role model for your Put broccoli on junior’s plate and
kids. KFC on yours.
Offer fresh fruit, pretzels, and milk Offer gummy bears, chips, and
for snacks. soda for snacks.
Serve high fiber cereal for Serve donut holes for breakfast.
breakfast.
“Do you feel full?” “Clean your plate!”

8. Good Choices . . .
We are always advising children to “make good
choices” – now we need to do the same thing! It is
our responsibility as the adults in children’s lives to
make good choices on their behalf. At The Creation
Station, we are committed to supporting your child’s
healthy lifestyle by providing daily exercise
opportunities and nutritious snacks. Together, we can
raise happy, healthy children!