Decrease childhood overweight & obesity
Rising obesity among American children is an alarming trend associated with the early onset of serious health problems, including Type II diabetes. Mounting evidence also links childhood obesity to poor school performance. How do we put a stop to this epidemic?
Pregnancy
Normalize body mass index before pregnancy, don't smoke, maintain moderate exercise as tolerated, in gestational diabetics, provide meticulous glucose control.
Postpartum and Infancy
Breast-feeding preferred for a minimum of 3 months, postpone the introduction of solid foods and sweet liquids.
Families
Eat meals as a family in a fixed place and time, don't skip meals, especially breakfast, no television during meals, use small plates, and keep serving dishes away from the table, avoid unnecessary sweet or fatty foods and soft drinks, remove televisions from children's bedrooms; restrict times for television viewing and video games.
Schools
Eliminate fundraisers with candy and cookie sales, review the contents of vending machines and replace with healthier choices, install water fountains, educate teachers, especially physical education and science faculty, about basic nutrition and the benefits of physical activity, educate children from preschool through high school on appropriate diet and lifestyle, mandate minimum standards for physical education, including 30–45 minutes of strenuous exercise 2–3 times weekly, encourage groups of children walking to school with an adult.
Communities
Increase family-friendly exercise and play facilities for children of all ages, discourage the use of elevators and moving walkways, provide information on how to shop and prepare healthier versions of culture-specific foods.
Health Care Providers
Explain the biologic and genetic contributions to obesity, give age-appropriate expectations for body weight in children, work toward classifying obesity as a disease to promote recognition, reimbursement for care, and willingness and ability to provide treatment.
Healthcare Providers
The iTrace Foundation promotes healthy living for South Florida residents through evidence-based health outcomes research. We understand that improving personal health and well being requires the collaboration of individuals, families, schools, communities, health care providers, industry and the government.
Industry
Mandate age-appropriate nutrition labeling for products aimed at children (e.g., red light/green light foods, with portion sizes), encourage marketing of interactive video games in which children must exercise in order to play, use celebrity advertising directed at children for healthful foods to promote breakfast and regular meals.