Strong4Life: Know the Signs

The signs of major water damage aren’t hard to spot:  there might be a standing puddle of water in the bathroom. Or maybe a corner of your ceiling is soft and discolored. There could even be nasty signs of mold. But one thing’s for sure: you know serious water damage when you see it.  And you know there’s a leak somewhere that’ll undermine the entire structure of your home unless you find it and fix it—pronto.

It might seem that easy to spot the signs of childhood obesity, but it’s not. In fact, our biggest problem in Georgia is that parents don’t notice obesity in their own home. Nearly 40% of our state’s kids are overweight or obese and, according to our research, 75% of their parents don’t see it as a problem. And listen to this: the childhood obesity rate in the U.S. has increased 300% in the last 30 years.

Maybe the obesity problem is something like a slow water leak: it comes on over time, so it might sneak past you—but make no mistake, it can still cause plenty of harm.  And that’s why it’s vital to look for the signs in your home, right now, today. 

So how do you know if you’re one of the 75% of parents in denial about the health of your child? Take Strong4Life's Assess4Success test. By answering a few short questions, it can help you see how your child is doing with regard to the Strong4Life Healthy Habits. The questions remind us that if we can't follow them every day that's ok. Habits form over time, and we can get there together.

If you have a hunch your child might have an issue with weight, follow up on it by speaking with your pediatrician. Knowing the signs of childhood obesity is a great first step, because once you recognize and understand the problem, you have the power to address it and Strong4Life will be here for you, each step of the way.

Strong4Life is a movement created by Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta to address the childhood obesity medical crisis that is threatening nearly one million kids in Georgia. For information about Strong4Life visit our website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Strong4Life Blog.