September is "National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month"

September is "National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month". Childhood obesity is a major health problem. About 1 out of every 5 (17%) children in the United States has obesity and certain groups of children are more affected than others. Children who have obesity are more likely to have obesity as adults. This can lead to lifelong physical and mental health problems, including diabetes and increased risk of certain cancers. There are ways parents can help prevent obesity and support healthy growth in children. Parents should make sure children get adequate sleep, follow recommendations on daily screen time, take part in physical activity and eat the right amount of calories. Parents should make sure their children eat their fruits and vegetables, as well as drink a lot of water, and help them maintain a healthy weight. For more information, please contact the American College of Sports and Medicine website at www.acsm.org.