Childhood Obesity Prevention

In  the summer of 2006, the Foundation for Healthy Communities conducted chart reviews in 25 primary care physician practices across New Hampshire to document the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity among children ages 6-12 years old. In total, 1453 medical records were reviewed, and the New Hampshire Childhood Obesity Report revealed that 32.8% of children in this age group were overweight or obese. Further, we found that there was an opportunity to improve prevention and treatment services for childhood overweight not only in pediatric and family health care practices, but also in NH communities.
 

In the fall of 2006, the Foundation established the NH Childhood Obesity Expert Panel and asked participants to develop practical recommendations for New Hampshire communities that wish to implement strategies for the prevention of childhood obesity. This spring, we introduce you to the product of the hard work, expertise, and dedication of the panel: Preventing Childhood Obesity: Promoting Physical Activity and Healthy Eating.
The resounding message in the recommendations is that this is not about weight, but about the health of our communities' children. The risks of being overweight or obese increase the risk of a number of serious medical conditions, including heart disease and stroke, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and some cancers. Here, we provide recommendations and resources to help communities and families take the first steps towards prevention.
 

"5-2-1-0 Healthy NH" is a statewide public education campaign to bring awareness to the daily guidelines for nutrition and physical activity. Its message is simple and clear and represents some of the most important steps families can take to prevent childhood obesity:

5  Fruits and vegetables…more matters!  Eat at least 5 servings a day.  Limit 100% fruit juice. 
2  Cut screen time to 2 hours or less a day.
1  Participate in at least one hour of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day.
0  Restrict soda and sugar-sweetened sports and fruit drinks.  Instead, drink water and 3-4 servings/day of fat-free/skim or 1% milk.

Below, you'll find resources for doctors, teachers and anyone else in the community to use to promote 5210 Healthy NH and implement the recommendations outlined by the NH Childhood Obesity Expert Panel. All of the materials are free for your use.  Just click on the group of items you are interested in below and a list of materials for you to download will pop up.

Power Point Presentations:
Childhood obesity survey
Childhood obesity recommendations
Changing the Scene Conference, March 2007

We would like to thank the Maine Center for Public Health and the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative for sharing materials and expertise from the "Keep ME Healthy 5-2-1-0 Power Up" project.