Preschoolers’ weight

Listen to Tip Interested? Take the Next Step St. Bernards Physician Directory Healthcare Medical Group (HMG) Physicians and Specialties

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Here’s a worrisome statistic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 1 in 7 children ages 2 to 4 years is obese.

Little ones who are obese are more likely to develop diabetes and asthma, as well as cholesterol problems and high blood pressure when they get older.

The CDC’s Larry Grummer-Strawn:

[Larry Grummer-Strawn speaks] ``Many of these are concerns that particularly affect older children and adults, but the conditions actually start in childhood. It increases their risk as young children, but certainly sets them on a course for having these problems later on in life.”

Grummer-Strawn says parents can reduce the risks of obesity by breastfeeding, avoiding sugary drinks and high-calorie snacks, encouraging lots of fruits and vegetables, and keeping the kids active.

The study is in CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: August, 12 2009

Join us online - Email - Twitter - Facebook -Here!

You can access our extensive online medical information library right here at St. Bernards. Visit www.StBernards.info and click on the Health Q & A button.