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Nutrition and Diet
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Childhood Obesity

Number of resources found: 39

Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource Indicates a resource from a Land Grant Institution or from a Cooperative Extension Agency.

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Fitness for Kids: Getting your Children off the Couch Language: English
Publisher: Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (2011)
Description: This Mayo Clinic health article focuses on children's health and fitness. It includes information on what parents can do to support their children in good health, physically fitness, and how to promote physical activity.
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VERB Language: English
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2006)
Description: VERB™ It’s what you do. VERB is a Web site from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The goal of the site is to encourage children and families to be active. It has suggestions of activities, "how-to" guides, polls and quizzes, and a section for recording activity.
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General Information

A Comprehensive Approach to Addressing Childhood Obesity in Early Childhood Programs Language: English
Author: Anderson, Joyce
Publisher: Child Care Exchange (2006)
Description: This aricle describes the need for early childhood professionals to take action in the battle against childhood obesity. It lists reasons why it is important to address childhood obesity in early childhood programs. Strategies for improving menus and physical activities are included.
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All 4 Kids: Healthy Snacks Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Byington, Teresa
Publisher: University of Nevada Cooperative Extension (2008)
Description: This brochure is intended for use with parents and caregivers. It provides general information on healthy snacks; how to choose them, how to get kids to eat them, etc.
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Body Mass Index Calculator (Children) Language: English
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control - National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (2008)
Description: This Web page describes how the Body Mass Index (BMI) is used to measure children. The BMI provides a guideline based on weight and height to determine if children are underweight and overweight. For children, BMI is interpreted differently based on age and sex.
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Center for Science in the Public Interest Publisher of Nutrition Action Healthletter Language: English
Description: The Center for Science in the Public Interest provides information related to nutrition and health, and food safety.
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Choose My Plate (New Nutrition Guidelines) Language: English
Publisher: U.S. Department of Agriculture (2011)
Description: This Department of Agriculture website provides information on the new nutrition guidelines. There are links and resources for preschoolers, kids, weight loss, pregnant and breastfeeding women, and the general population.
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Comprehensive Obesity Prevention in Early Childhood: Promising Federal and State Initiatives Language: English
Author: Banghart , Patti
Publisher: National Center for Children in Poverty- Columbia University (March 2012)
Description: This report presents a range of early childhood obesity prevention initiatives to inform states of ways they can build strong cross-system efforts to reduce childhood obesity rates. The report includes information on: the scope of the childhood obesity challenge in the U.S.; early care and education initiatives to prevent obesity; innovative state efforts; obesity prevention strategies in other early childhood systems; and state policy recommendations.
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Does My Child Have a Weight Problem? Language: English
Publisher: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children, USDA (March 2012)
Description: This newsletter provides information for parents who are concerned about their children's weight.
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Forming Good Habits in Children to Avoid Obesity Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Evers, William
Publisher: Purdue University Extension (March 2004)
Description: This news brief from Purdue provides information on how to help children develop good habits when it comes to eating. Suggestions, helpful hints, and snack ideas are provided. Right now your children are forming habits that will last a lifetime. You need to do what you can to encourage good habits and discourage bad ones. Habits are difficult to change. Good habits need to be formed at a young age. Poor eating habits may result in impaired health or lead to obesity in later life.
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Healthy Eating for Children 2 Through 5 Years Old: A Guide for Parents and Childcare Providers Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Serrano, Elena
Publisher: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2009)
Description: This publication covers different topics that are of interest to parents and caregivers of young children and gives an overview of healthy eating and feeding practices. Proper nutrition and opportunities to play and be physically active are critical to ensure that your child grows properly and adopts healthy behaviors for lifelong health.
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Healthy Habits for Healthy Kids: A Nutrition and Activity Guide for Parents Language: English
Publisher: American Dietetic Association ( 2003)
Description: As part of a healthy weight program, parents can help their children reach wellness goals by making healthy changes at home. Weight can be affected by many factors, but environment is often a major component. Healthy eating and physical activity don’t become habits overnight. It takes time and effort to make them part of a daily routine. This guide tells you where to start and what you can do at home to help your child. It talks about the important role of family, realistic goals, nutrition and physical activity. The recommendations in this guide are targeted toward healthy weight for children ages 4-12.
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Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids: What Should I Do if My Child Is Overweight? Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Serrano, Elena
Publisher: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2009)
Description: This publication provides information to parents on children who are overweight. It explains how to know if a child is overweight, concerns for overweight children, and what parents can do to help. It includes suggestions on how often to eat, what types of food to eat, and how to includes physical activities into their day.
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Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids: What is a Healthy Weight? Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Serrano, Elena
Publisher: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2009)
Description: This publication provides information to parents on weight and children. It provides information on guidelines for a healthy weight, how to know if a child is overweight, and what parents can do to help. It includes brief information on what foods to eat and how to include physical activities in their day.
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Healthy Weights for Healthy Kids: What Should I Do if My Child Has a Poor Body Image? Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Serrano, Elena
Publisher: Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (2009)
Description: This publication provides information to parents on children who may have a poor body image. Body image is how a person views him- or herself in the mirror and in his or her mind. It can change over time. A body image-positive or negative—can affect a person’s sense of worth or self-esteem. It discusses the importance of body image, symptoms of eating disorders, and what parents can do to help.
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Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: Spanish, English
Publisher: Institute of Medicine (September 1, 2009)
Description: Childhood obesity is a serious nationwide health problem. Preventing obesity involves promotion of healthy eating behaviors and regular physical activity. The 2009 report Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity presents a menu of recommended action steps for local government officials to consider in their efforts to prevent childhood obesity in their community. You can view online or purchase a hard copy. In the United States, 16.3 percent of children and adolescents between the ages of two and 19 are obese. The prevalence of obesity is so high that it may reduce the life expectancy of today’s generation of children and diminish the overall quality of their lives. Local governments can play a crucial role in creating environments that make it easier for children to eat healthy diets and move more.
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Local Wellness Policy Language: English
Publisher: USDA (September 1, 2009)
Description: Congress passed a law that requires every local education agency participating in USDA's school meals program to establish a local wellness policy. This Web site shares information on the new goals for nutrition education, physical activity, and other school-based activities that promote student wellness.
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Nutrition for Infants and Toddlers Language: English
Publisher: American Dietetic Association (2011)
Description: This website provides information about healthy nutrition for infant and toddlers. Topics include getting started on eathing right, breast feeding basics, formula basics, introducing solid foods, reducing the risk of food allergies, size wize nutrition for toddlers, coping with picky eaters, and feeding vegetarian and vegan infants and toddlers.
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Nutrition for Kids and Teens Language: English
Publisher: American Dietetic Association (2011)
Description: This website provides information about healthy nutrition for children and teens. Topics include raising healthy eaters, promoting positive body images, physical activity and kids, eating right to play hard, no more food fights, nutrition for growing bodies, and meal suggestions.
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Obesity and Overuse of Electronic Media -- Science of Parenting Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Greder, Kimberly
Publisher: Iowa State University Extension (2011)
Description: A child's health and wellbeing can be affected in many ways by spending too much time using electronic media. Find tips for setting limits, encouraging physical activity, and talking with your child about use of time.
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Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: Spanish, English
Publisher: Institute of Medicine (September 2004)
Description: This report brief discusses the epidemic of childhood obesity, the costs, understanding the causes, and developing an action plan for prevention. "The prevelence of obesity has more than doubled for preschool children aged 2-5 years and adolescents aged 12-19 years, and it has more than tripled for children aged 6-11 years over the past 30 years. This page has links to Fact Sheets on Childhood Obesity as well as a link to the pdf full report.
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Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance (Institute of Medicine Report) Language: Spanish, English
Description: This report brief describes a national strategy that recommends specific actions for families, schools, industry, communities, and government on preventing childhood obesity.
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Reducing Childhood Obesity Language: English
Publisher: American Dietetic Association (2011)
Description: This website provides information about healthy nutrition for reducing childhood obesity. Topics include getting started on eathing right, eating right at school, being active, and meal planning.
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Role of Media in Childhood Obesity Language: English
Publisher: The Kaiser Family Foundation (February 24, 2004)
Description: This news release highlights the relationship between childhood obesity and the role of the media. Majority of the research reports linkages between the amount of time children spend watching television and their body weight. Today about 10% of 2- to 5-year-olds and 15% of 6- to 19-year-olds are overweight.
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Smart Nutrition 101 Language: English
Description: This Web site is a searchable collection of government resources about a wide variety of health and nutrition topics.
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The Effects of Electronic Media on Children Ages Zero to Six: A History of Research Language: English
Author: Evans Schmidt, Marie
Publisher: The Kaiser Family Foundation (Jan 2005)
Description: The purpose of this issue brief is to review the history of research about the effects of electronic media on children zero to six years old, summarize the findings of the seminal studies in this area, and note gaps in the research base.
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The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity Language: English
Publisher: The Kaiser Family Foundation (Feb 2004)
Description: The purpose of this issue brief is to explore children’s use of media as a potential contributor to the rising rates of childhood obesity. The report reviews prior research for relationships between obesity and media use and provides recommendations for public policy to address childhood obesity.
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The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Description: This website provides information on obesity that communities can use to help address problems associated with overweight and obesity. Resources are included.
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Tips for Parents: A parent’s guide to children’s weight Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Bower, Don
Publisher: University of Georgia (August 2001)
Description: The University of Georgia's Cooperative Extension Service has provided this revised peice by Don Bower for parents with tips on how help children manage their weight effectively. Whether you concern is that your child is underweight or overweight, this publication provides guidance for families.
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Watching My Child Grow!! Language: English
Publisher: USDA Food and Nutrition Service (August 2001)
Description: This brochure provides information on typical growth patterns of children.
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Weight-control Information Network (WIN) Language: English
Description: This website is managed by the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) and includes up-to-date, science-based information on weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional resources.
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Your Child's Health, Your Child's Weight Language: English
Publisher: University of Georgia (2001)
Description: This publication discusses the problem of childhood obesity and gives parents BMI charts and information to determine if their children are at risk.
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Professional Development

Developing Healthy Eating Habits and Physical Activity Patterns in Early Childhood Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Publisher: CYFERnet (April 2012)
Description: The preschool years are critical time for establishing healthy eating and activity behaviors as a foundation for a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately, most children are not meeting dietary or physical activity recommendations. This lecture will navigate through young children's developmental stages as it relates to food, nutrition and gross motor development. Discussions on strategies to promote healthful eating and physical activity in child care and at home will be explored.
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Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: English
Author: Lanigan, Jane
Publisher: CYFAR (May 2008)
Description: This CYFAR conference workshop shares research-based obesity prevention strategies that target child care, an important early learning context for many children today. Participants will learn about programs, curriculum and strategies that promote healthy eating and activity in a variety of child-care settings. Preliminary results from ENHANCE (Encouraging Healthy Activity and Nutrition in Childcare Environments) will be shared. A PDF of the presentation is provided. Includes the incidence of obesity in the U.S. from 1985 to 2006.
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Facts for Families Language: English
Publisher: American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry (May 2008)
Description: A series of fact sheets for families providing information on issues that affect children, teenagers, and their families
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Kids Walk-to-School Language: English
Publisher: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (May 2008)
Description: This is the Web site for the Centers for Disease Control Kids Walk-to School program. Kids Walk-to-School is intended to increase children's physical activity by encouraging them to walk or ride their bikes to school accompanied by adults. It also encourages community safety partnerships. The site has information on a variety of health topics such as obesity and nutrition and also contains materials to start the program in a community.
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Research

Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity Land Grant Institution or Extension Resource

Language: Spanish, English
Publisher: Institute of Medicine (September 1, 2009)
Description: Childhood obesity is a serious nationwide health problem. Preventing obesity involves promotion of healthy eating behaviors and regular physical activity. The 2009 report Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity presents a menu of recommended action steps for local government officials to consider in their efforts to prevent childhood obesity in their community. You can view online or purchase a hard copy. In the United States, 16.3 percent of children and adolescents between the ages of two and 19 are obese. The prevalence of obesity is so high that it may reduce the life expectancy of today’s generation of children and diminish the overall quality of their lives. Local governments can play a crucial role in creating environments that make it easier for children to eat healthy diets and move more.
More

Pediatric Overweight: A Review of the Literature Language: English
Publisher: Center for Weight and Health, UC Berkeley (June 2001)
Description: This 130-page report reviews the literature in the area of childhood obesity. It includes sections on prevalence; contributing factors and implications for intervention; diet and activity interventions among children; maketing; and public policy. (Note: This is a large PDF document and may take a long time to download depending on your Internet connection speed.)
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Preschool’s Role in Fighting Childhood Obesity Language: English
Publisher: NIEER (Jan 2010)
Description: This article from the Preschool Matters publication examines the role of preschools in fighting obesity in early childhood. Research from Children's Activity and Movement in Preschools Study (CHAMPS) is summarized and the recommendation that preschools and teachers become more involved in promoting preschoolers' physical activity is presented.
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