Growing Healthy Learners

Being overweight is now the most common nutritional disease of children. Preschool children who are overweight are almost five times more likely to be overweight as young adults. According to the research done by the University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, children who are overweight as preschoolers are five times more likely to be overweight as adult. Sixty percent of overweight children 5 — 10 years of age already have at least one risk factor for heart disease (high cholesterol, high triglycerides, or high blood pressure), and are experiencing increasing rates of Type 2 diabetes, previously only thought of as an adult illness.

Fifty-six percent of all preschool age children spend some time in child care. Incorporating healthy eating and physical activity practices in child care settings will yield lifelong outcomes for children, with promise of decreasing the risk for obesity, and accompanying health risks. If you are a child care provider or center director and would like to learn more about what you can do to help combat childhood obesity, through our Healthy Learners project, contact Sandy Myers, Director of Program and Public Policy at smyers@resourcesforchildcare.org 651-641-6635.