National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports overweight is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Among preschool-aged children, aged 2–5 years, the prevalence of overweight increased from 5.0% to 13.9% from 1976 to 2003. Among school-aged children, aged 6–11 years, the prevalence of overweight increased from 4.0% to 18.8% for the same time period.
Elementary Years
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) reports overweight is a serious health concern for children and adolescents. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults. For example, one study found that approximately 80% of children who were overweight at aged 10–15 years were obese adults at age 25 years. Another study found that 25% of obese adults were overweight as children. The latter study also found that if overweight begins before 8 years of age, obesity in adulthood is likely to be more severe. The prevalence of overweight children ages 12-19 has increased from 5% - 17% from 1976-2004.
Overweight children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults. For example, during their youth, overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes) than are other children and adolescents.
Food Fun and Fitness – Elementary Years is the Denver Osteopathic Foundation’s program for elementary students in 3rd -6th grade. This is a six month program where students start the school year learning about and creating projects around eating healthy. In Physical Education class they learn about burning calories and experiment with how different.
activities like running, walking, and jumping rope strengthen the body and make it stronger. Finally students will log exercise activities as they train with their PE teacher during the fall and winter months. In the spring students will be able to run a portion of the Colfax Marathon. The important goal of this program is to help children develop a life long interest in staying healthy and fit.
