FROM THE FIRE CHIEF'S CORNER: CHILDHOOD OBESITY AWARENESS MONTH

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly version Share this

 

By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna

September 4, 2015 (San Diego’s East County)--Did you know that one in three children in the united States is overweight? Childhood obesity puts kids at risk and is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height.

Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

The good news is Childhood obesity can be prevented. Communities, health professionals and families can work together to create opportunities for kids to eat healthier and remain active. One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect the health of your child now and in the future.

You can contact your local family physician and visit http://coam-month.org/ for additional prevention information.

*Note: The information in this article was compiled from various sources. These suggestions are not a complete list of every preventative or loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace additional safety manuals or the advice of another qualified professional(s). We make no guarantee of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.

 

 


Error message

Support community news in the public interest! As nonprofit news, we rely on donations from the public to fund our reporting -- not special interests. Please donate to sustain East County Magazine's local reporting and/or wildfire alerts at https://www.eastcountymedia.org/donate to help us keep people safe and informed across our region.