How to Stop Childhood Obesity
Executive Summary
Parents across America are deeply concerned about their children’s health and the epidemic of childhood obesity. One out of every three children is now overweight or obese, a condition that places them at greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer over the course of their lives. This is not the future we want for our children, and it is a burden our health care system cannot bear. Nearly $150 billion per year is now being spent to treat obesity-related medical conditions.
Fortunately, there are clear, concrete steps we can take as a society to help our children reach adulthood at a healthy weight. Following these steps will put our country on track to solving the problem of childhood obesity.
My recommendations focus on the four priority areas set forth in the Memorandum, which also form the pillars of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Campaign: (1) empowering parents and caregivers; (2) providing healthy food in schools; (3) improving access to healthy, affordable foods; and (4) increasing physical activity. In addition, we have included a set of recommendations for actions that can be taken very early in a child’s life, when the risk of obesity first emerges.
My recommendations are not simply for Federal action, but also for how the private sector, state and local leaders, and parents themselves can help improve the health of our children. The Task Force will move quickly to develop a strategy for implementing this plan, working in partnership with the First Lady to engage stakeholders across society
Introduction
Obesity is defined as excess body fat. Because body fat is difficult to measure directly, obesity is often measured by body mass index (BMI), a common scientific way to screen for whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. BMI adjusts weight for height, and while it is not a perfect indicator of obesity, it is a valuable tool for public health. Adults with a BMI between
Parents across America are deeply concerned about their children’s health and the epidemic of childhood obesity. One out of every three children is now overweight or obese, a condition that places them at greater risk of developing diabetes, heart disease, and cancer over the course of their lives. This is not the future we want for our children, and it is a burden our health care system cannot bear. Nearly $150 billion per year is now being spent to treat obesity-related medical conditions.
Fortunately, there are clear, concrete steps we can take as a society to help our children reach adulthood at a healthy weight. Following these steps will put our country on track to solving the problem of childhood obesity.
My recommendations focus on the four priority areas set forth in the Memorandum, which also form the pillars of the First Lady’s Let’s Move! Campaign: (1) empowering parents and caregivers; (2) providing healthy food in schools; (3) improving access to healthy, affordable foods; and (4) increasing physical activity. In addition, we have included a set of recommendations for actions that can be taken very early in a child’s life, when the risk of obesity first emerges.
My recommendations are not simply for Federal action, but also for how the private sector, state and local leaders, and parents themselves can help improve the health of our children. The Task Force will move quickly to develop a strategy for implementing this plan, working in partnership with the First Lady to engage stakeholders across society
Introduction
Obesity is defined as excess body fat. Because body fat is difficult to measure directly, obesity is often measured by body mass index (BMI), a common scientific way to screen for whether a person is underweight, normal weight, overweight, or obese. BMI adjusts weight for height, and while it is not a perfect indicator of obesity, it is a valuable tool for public health. Adults with a BMI between
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