National Health Observances for September 2021

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Nearly 20% of American youth (13.7 million children) between the ages of 2 and 19 are considered obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As a result, public health officials have declared childhood obesity a national epidemic.

That’s because overweight children are at a much greater risk for health problems now and in the future than children who are within a healthy weight range. And pretending the issue doesn’t exist only hurts children more. In fact, the longer a child remains overweight, the greater their risk for developing serious long-term health problems, such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Fortunately, childhood obesity can be prevented and reduced through healthy eating and regular physical activity. Prevention is easier and more effective when parents promote healthy eating and exercise habits at an early age, and incorporate them into their family’s lifestyle. For more information, visit www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease.

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