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With nearly one-third of children overweight or obese, childhood obesity is an epidemic, and the health of an entire generation is on the line. To help parents guide their families in healthy lifestyles, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has created a series of audio interviews with pediatricians who are experts in nutrition and fitness – and getting kids to eat their vegetables.
Listen to Sound Advice on Healthy Living at www.aap.org/obesity/soundadvice.html or on the AAP parenting Web site at www.healthychildren.org/SoundAdviceHealthyLiving.
“We want to empower families to take action in their homes and communities,” said O. Marion Burton, MD, FAAP, president of the AAP. “By forming these habits now, parents prepare their children to grow into healthy, active adults.”
At the Sound Advice on Healthy Living site, parents can listen first-hand as pediatricians answer common questions:
If parents are concerned about their child’s weight, what should they do?
What strategies work best with picky eaters?
How can families make healthy choices in restaurants?
Should children take a multivitamin?
How important are omega-3 fatty acids for children?
How can families incorporate exercise into busy schedules?
What can parents do if it’s unsafe for kids to play outdoors?
“Families need all the encouragement we can give them,” said Sandra Hassink, MD, FAAP, chair of the AAP Obesity Leadership Workgroup and one of the featured experts on Sound Advice. “In an environment that’s not so healthy for children, families often feel that they’re engaged in an uphill battle. But children will do what the parents do. The first thing parents can do is to assess their own diet -- what kinds of foods are in the house, how much they’re eating out -- and try to move their lifestyle to a healthier diet.”
The AAP offers additional resources for families at www.aap.org/obesityand at www.healthychildren.org
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