CREES/USDA Project on Reversing Childhood Obesity Trends

Reversing Childhood Obesity Trends:
Helping Children Achieve Healthy Weights

Vision | Mission | Goals | Strategies | Contacts | Newsletters

We are becoming a nation of overweight and obese people. In a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it was found that more than 50 percent of adults are overweight and about 20 percent are obese. Overweight and obesity in this CDC report were based on definitions found in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Individuals were considered overweight when their Body Mass Index (BMI) was greater than or equal to 25. Individuals were defined as obese when their BMI was greater than or equal to 30. Body Mass Index is a measure of body weight relative to height.

In general, the daily caloric intakes have increased in both children and their parents during the past 30 years. Eating more frequently is encouraged by numerous environmental changes: a greater variety of foods, some foods with higher caloric content, the growth of the fast food industry, the increased number and more aggressive marketing of snack foods, increased time for socializing, and a growing tendency to socialize with food and drink.

At the same time, there are fewer opportunities in daily life to burn calories: children watch more television daily; many schools have replaced or cut back on physical education; many neighborhoods lack sidewalks for safe walking; the workplace has become increasingly automated; households chores are assisted by labor-saving machinery; and walking and cycling have been replaced by automobile travel for all but the shortest distances.

Being overweight is a serious nutrition-related condition in the United States. Because most methods for achieving weight loss are unsuccessful over time, prevention continues to be the most viable option for controlling overweight. Reversing the trends of a more overweight and obese population requires changes in individual and family behavior regarding food intake, physical activity, and the elimination of societal barriers to healthy choices.

As part of its mission, the Cooperative Extension System (CES) delivers nutrition education programs to the general public, promoting healthy eating patterns and leading physically active lifestyles. The basis of these program efforts are the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid. These program efforts also meet the performance guidelines related to Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service Goal 3: To achieve a healthier, more well-nourished population, found in the Federal Partner's Strategic Plan.

Because of the CES's mission and its extensive capacity to deliver science-based nutrition and health education to individuals and families, CES will be an excellent community resource to help families achieve healthy lifestyles. Already these activities exist within the System through 4-H and school involvement, however, with a coordinated approach to programs focused on reversing the prevalence of childhood obesity, the CES could show greater positive impact when reporting accomplishments in this area.

Childhood obesity is not simply a cosmetic problem. Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults. Accordingly, effective prevention of adult chronic diseases associated with obesity should begin during childhood. Overweight adults are at increased risk of heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, some types of cancer, and gallbladder
disease.

Vision
Our nation's children will achieve healthy weights and grow into healthy, capable adults through increased opportunities to enjoy healthful eating, participate in physical activities of their choice, and develop a strong, positive sense-of-self.

Mission
To reduce the prevalence of childhood obesity across the nation through the integration of research, education, and innovative approaches to help children achieve healthy weights.

Goals
Goal 1: Promote lifelong healthy eating patterns to our nation's children and their families.

Outcome: Primary outcome of nutrition education is to assist young people to adopt healthy eating behaviors that promote health and reduce the risk of disease.

Goal 2: Promote physically active lifestyles among young people and their families.

Outcome: Primary outcome of physical activity is to decrease the degree of overweight among obese youth and to raise the level of self-esteem and self-concept, and lower levels of anxiety and stress.

Strategies
To accomplish the mission, vision, goals, and outcomes, two related strategies were developed for implementation of the proposed Childhood Obesity Initiative within the Cooperative Extension System. The two strategies and their respective action steps are the following:

Strategy #1: Provide high quality, science-based education that increases knowledge, improves attitudes, and builds skills directed at reducing the prevalence of childhood obesity.

Strategy #2: Organize coalitions and networks to create environments that support enjoyable, healthful eating, physical activity, and a positive self-image.

Project Contacts