An interview with David S. Ludwig, MD.
WebMD Feature

Concerned that your child might be overweight or obese? As a parent, it can be hard to know what to do. Can you just hope your child will grow out of it? Can you encourage healthy habits without nagging? Is there some way to get your child to try a bite of vegetables without turning dinner into a pitched battle every night?

WebMD got some answers from David S. Ludwig, MD. He’s a pediatrician at Children’s Hospital, Boston and founding director of its Optimal Weight for Life (OWL) program, a clinic for overweight kids. Ludwig is also the author of Ending the Food Fight: Guide Your Child to a Healthy Weight in a Fast Food/Fake Food World.

How do I know if my child’s weight is unhealthy?

Well, you can look for signs of being overweight. Is your kid having trouble keeping up with other kids in sports? Is he outgrowing standard clothing sizes? But the best way is to look at the growth charts, which your pediatrician should be doing regularly. You can find out how your child’s BMI (body mass index) compares with those of other kids.

If your child is overweight or obese, you need to take action. Some parents of obese kids want to write off the issue. They say, “Oh, he’ll grow out of it.” But all we have to do is look around us. It’s very obvious that many, many children are not growing out of it…. read article >>

Public, private coalition hopes to meet weight-linked healthcare needs of 6.2 million kids

By Alan Mozes
HealthDay Reporter

In what they called a “landmark agreement,” former President Bill Clinton and the American Heart Association announced Thursday the launch of a national initiative on childhood obesity, aimed at getting up to 6 million American kids covered for routine visits to both primary care physicians and dietitians.

“I think we want the children of America to know, No. 1, that we want them to be healthy, we want them to grow up healthy, and we want them to start now,” Clinton told reporters at his foundation’s headquarters in New York City…. read article >>

You’ll be amazed that a smoothie can be so easy to make and still be healthy!
A Family Favorite!

Belinda Davison, mother of 2 elementary students, makes smoothies several times a week and her kids love it. “Smoothies are super easy to make, cost very little and my kids can’t get enough! You can throw in yogurt, fruit, a little ice and viola… you’ve got an instant hit!”

What could be better than cooling down with an ice-cold fruit smoothie? These creamy shakes are perfect for a quick breakfast, a healthy lunch, or a refreshing mid-afternoon snack. At any time of day, a smoothie can help you meet your fruit quota for the day! check out these awesome Smoothie recipes>>

Study Shows Food Companies Target Captive School Audience
CSPI Newsroom
Obviously, the obesity epidemic is a huge problem itself, and the relationship to cancer is only one of the many adverse health effects of being overweight … read article >>

How to get kids to eat their veggies
StarTribune.com-St. Paul, Minnesota

A recent survey conducted for Green Giant found that 25 of every 100 parents think it is more likely for their child to become president than to eat their recommended daily amount of vegetables (1 cup for toddlers, 2 to 3 cups for older children). Here are suggestions from experts on how to get vegetables into our little darlings’ daily diet:
Be consistent. Kids will learn that vegetables are a normal part of meals only if vegetables are a normal part of meals. … read article >>

Kids follow parents’ lead on fruits and vegetables
NEW YORK (Reuters Health)

Parents who want their preschoolers to eat their fruits and vegetables should probably practice what they preach, a new study suggests.

In a study of more than 1,300 families, researchers found that when parents boosted their own consumption of fruits and vegetables, so did their young children.
… read article >>

States Gain Little Ground In Obesity Battle

Obesity rates continue to rise in 37 states, and no states have seen a decrease, according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health.

The new report compares rates from 2005-2007 to 2004-2006.

The group, which calls for fixes such as a national plan to fight child obesity and more workplace health facilities, found that at least one in five adults is obese in every state except Colorado, where the rate is 18.4 percent
… read article >>

Florida legislators to schools: Let’s get physical
By Marc Freeman | South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Do your kids practice karate a few nights a week?

That activity — along with soccer or any other workouts — could get children excused from physical education at elementary and middle schools one year from now.

The availability of P.E. waivers, which also will extend to students in a remedial academic course, is one of the twists of a new state law designed to combat childhood obesity. Changes are being phased in over two years.

… read article >>

Report Suggests Schools Must Do More to Address Childhood Obesity
by: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Two years after the federal government required schools to implement wellness policies, the nonprofit group Action for Healthy Kids has released a report outlining progress to date, United Press International reports. The report notes that nearly 70 percent of the wellness policies adopted by school districts fail to meet minimum federal requirements. And though school administrators and food service professionals say that they have made great strides toward improving student wellness, 82 percent of parents contend that schools could do more.
…. read article >>