HealthLink: New Guidelines for Preventing Childhood Obesity
In the last five weeks, leading health organizations released three new sets of guidelines that focus on the prevention of childhood obesity in North America.
These guidelines outline actions that key stakeholders including families, health professionals, industry, media, government, and the education sector can take to promote healthy weights and reduce the escalating rates of childhood obesity:
1. The Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences in the U.S. released their report: Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance.
This report lays out explicit goals, recommendations and actions needed to initiate, support and sustain societal and lifestyle changes for healthier weights. It proposes immediate steps that each key sector, parents and families can take.
2. The American Heart Association (AHA) released a Scientific Statement on Cardiovascular Health Promotion in Schools – A Statement for Health and Education Professionals and Child Health Advocates from the Committee on Atherosclerosis, Hypertension, and Obesity in Youth (AHOY) of the Council of Cardiovascular Disease in the Young, American Heart Association. This report reviews research on the effectiveness of various school-based heart health promotion and risk reduction interventions and makes recommendations for heart health education, school policies and links between schools and communities.
3. Dietitians of Canada released School Food and Nutrition Recommendations for Ontario Ministry of Education Regarding Snacks and Beverages Dispensed by Vending Machines. The criteria outlined in these guidelines are consistent with Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and support schools in ensuring that foods sold on their premises model nutrition education in classrooms.
CONSUMER TIPS:
Parents can play an important role in preventing childhood obesity. Here are three of the most important actions parents can take:
- Be a positive role model for their children by eating well and being active.
- Provide their children with a healthy variety of foods from each of the four food groups in Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating every day.
- Encourage their children to participate in physical activities of interest to them, support outdoor playtime and incorporate activity into daily routines.
HealthLink is an e-mail newsletter from the team of registered dietitians at the Beef Information Centre: a non-profit organization committed to provide credible and timely information. Please share it with colleagues.
WANT TO LEARN MORE? Read the complete article in the
Institute of Medicine Report.
AHA Scientific Statement.
News release and Recommendations
Canada's Physical Activity Guides for Children and Youth.
Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating.
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