Saturday, September 01, 2018

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month / Help Spread the Word

How can National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month make a difference? How can you help spread the word? Well this article will help you do just that.

September

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Sponsor: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

One in 5 children in the United States have obesity. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease.

The good news? Childhood obesity can be prevented. We can work together to create opportunities for kids to eat healthier and get more active.

Make a difference for kids: spread the word about strategies for preventing childhood obesity and encourage communities, organizations, families, and individuals to get involved.

How can National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month make a difference?

We can all use this month to raise awareness about the obesity epidemic and show people how they can help work toward a solution.

Here are just a few ideas:

Encourage families to make small changes, like keeping fresh fruit within reach or going on a family walk after dinner.
Motivate teachers and administrators to make schools healthier. Help them provide healthy food options and daily physical activities for students.
Ask doctors and nurses to be leaders in their communities by supporting programs to prevent childhood obesity.

How can I help spread the word?

We’ve made it easier for you to make a difference. This toolkit is full of ideas to help you take action today. For example:

Sample Announcement
Sample Tweets
Web Badge
Get Involved
Share These Resources
Find More Information

Get the Word Out

Sample Announcement for Newsletter, Listserv, or Media Release

Sample Tweets

Tip for #parents: Encourage your kids to help you plan and cook healthy meals. Learn how: https://bit.ly/2LdGaNm

Tweet This!

Check out these 10 tips to help preschoolers build healthy mealtime habits: http://bit.ly/1WBemor

Tweet This!

#Parents: Make sure your child gets at least 60 minutes of physical activity every day. Get tips: https://bit.ly/2X1ovQ0

Tweet This!

#DYK? About 1 in 3 kids are overweight or have obesity. Help your child stay at a healthy weight: https://bit.ly/2coFILq

Tweet This!

#Parents: When your family gets active together, everyone benefits! Tips for making a #PhysicalActivity plan for the whole family: https://bit.ly/2pkjQrC

Tweet This!

#DYK? September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. See how you can get involved: https://bit.ly/2skWNSC

Tweet This!

#ProTip for parents: Try out creative snacks for your kids, like "ants on a log" (celery with peanut butter and raisins)! https://bit.ly/1U98eyA

Tweet This!

Web Badge

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month – Healthier Kids, Brighter Futures!

Get Involved

Take action to increase awareness about childhood obesity.

Host a community event in a local park to get neighborhood kids playing outside.
Promote farm-to-school programs and school gardens.
Host a community event where families can get active while learning about local health and fitness resources.
Set an example by talking with family members and friends about eating healthy, getting enough physical activity, and limiting screen time.

Adapted from The American College of Sports Medicine.
For more information and materials, contact the American College of Sports Medicine at coam@acsm.org.