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September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. More than 14.7 million American children and adolescents have obesity — that's almost 20% of all children between the ages of 2 and 19 years. In New York State, an estimated 1 in 5 children have obesity.

Ethnic, socioeconomic, and environmental influences can affect rates of childhood obesity. It is important to understand that children with obesity are more likely to become obese adults, and develop life-threatening diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The goal of Childhood Obesity Awareness Month is to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic through education, better food choices, changes in physical activity, and good lifestyle habits.

How do I know if my child is at a healthy weight?

• Make a doctor’s appointment to ensure your child is growing in a healthy manner. Ask whether your child is at a healthy weight.

• For children ages 2 and older, calculate your child’s body mass index (BMI) to learn if they are at a healthy weight. You can use a BMI calculator like this one: https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/bmi/calculator.html

What should I do if my child is overweight or has obesity?

To slow down weight gain and allow for healthy growth, encourage healthy eating and physical activity. Families can follow the 5-2-1-0 rule as outlined below:

• Rule 5: Children should have five or more servings of vegetables and fruits per day. Have everyone fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options at every meal. As a family, choose a new fruit and veggie every week to taste together. 
• Rule 2: No more than two hours of screen time a day. Make a family plan to replace screen time with family time. Turn off screens during meals. Consider charging electronics in the kitchen overnight, and set a timer to remind you to limit screen time.
• Rule 1: Get at least one hour of physical activity per day. Encourage children to participate in school/community sports programs and activities. Join your children in activities like walking the dog, dancing around your living room, or turning TV commercial breaks into family fitness breaks.
• Rule 0: Zero sugary drinks. Make water the drink of choice. Place a full pitcher of water on the table during meals and allow children to pour their own water. Keep full water bottles available.

For more resources, visit:

• MyPlate website for fun games, apps, and activity sheets
• Move Your Way website
• USDA list of resources

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html

New York State Department of Health https://www.health.ny.gov/prevention/obesity/

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion https://health.gov/moveyourway/get-kids-active

U.S. Department of Agriculture WIC Works Resource System https://wicworks.fns.usda.gov/resources/national-childhood-obesity-month#:~:text=September%20is%20National%20Childhood%20Obesity%20Month%20(available%20in%20Spanish).