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Community Corner

The Y Urges Healthier Habits for Kids

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the is reminding parents about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity and healthier eating habits into their children’s lives.

One in three children and the majority of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Childhood obesity in the United States is now the number one health concern for parents, topping smoking and drug abuse, according to the American Heart Association.

In Marblehead, 23.3% of children, male and female, are overweight or obese, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

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More alarming, obesity puts children at risk for chronic diseases often seen in adults, such as high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and type-2 diabetes.

This health crisis sheds light on the need to provide children and their parents with the resources and the support they need, emphasizing that small steps can lead to big results to reverse the trend.

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One key to fighting childhood obesity is prevention. Regular physical activity – 60 minutes a day for children – and nutritious foods like fruits, vegetables and whole grains can lower children’s chances of becoming obese or overweight and developing chronic diseases. It’s important to note that 60 minutes of physical activity can be achieved through a number of activities throughout the entire day – it doesn’t have to be done all at once.

As a leading nonprofit strengthening community through youth development, healthy living and social responsibility, the Y believes that getting kids more active and allowing them to play is an important factor in improving their health.  

“At the Y, we know that many families struggle to find the time and resources to eat healthier and set aside time for physical activity every day,” said Jaime Bloch, Health and Wellness Director at the Lynch/van Otterloo YMCA. “So we tailor our programs to meet the needs of families in the community to help make the healthier choice an easier choice.”

For additional information and a healthy living calendar, visit www.northshoreymca.org/lvofitprograms.cfm or http://www.choosemyplate.gov/.

Take a look at your dinner tonight and see how healthy you can be! Below are 10 signs of a healthy family home from your YMCA.

The Y: Ten Signs of a Healthy Family Home

  1. Water is the beverage of choice, supplemented by 100% fruit juices and low-fat milk.
  2. Fruits or vegetables are served at every meal including some fresh fruit or veggie options daily.
  3. Snack time includes foods that contain whole grains and protein instead of saturated and trans fats.
  4. Kids and adults are moving and playful for at least an hour per day, outside and together whenever possible.
  5. Kids and adults are breaking a sweat at least three times per week for 20 minutes or more.
  6. Kids are provided with frequent opportunities to play outdoors in ways that are unstructured and exploratory. Play experiences in nature take place often.
  7. The family dines together at least once every day, with kids involved in meal preparation and clean-up.
  8. Kids all receive daily one-on-one time with an adult.
  9. Television and video game time is limited to two hours per day.
  10. Kids and adults keep to a regular schedule that helps everyone get enough sleep. For the kids that means 10 - 12 hours per night, and seven - eight for the adults.
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