The YMCA Recognizes National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and the Fowler Y is reminding parents about the importance of incorporating regular physical activity and healthier eating habits into their children’s lives.

While a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows a small decline in childhood obesity rates among preschoolers in several states, there is still a long way to go before declaring an end to the childhood obesity epidemic.

Check out a few tips from the Y that will not only help families live healthier together, but help prevent childhood obesity.

1. Eat Healthy: Make water the drink of choice (supplemented by age-appropriate portions of 100 percent fruit juices and low-fat milk) and make it easy for everyone to fill half their plates with fruits and vegetables by offering two or three colorful options. Feel free to mix and match fresh, frozen and canned fruits and vegetables to provide variety.

2. Play Every Day/Go Outside: Kids should have at least an hour a day of unstructured play outside (when possible) and break a sweat at least three times a week by getting 20 minutes or more of vigorous physical activity.

3. Get Together: Eat as a family as frequently as possible with kids involved in meal preparation and clean up. In addition, adults should take a break from electronics and spend one-on-one time each day with their kids, enjoying one another’s company.

4. Reduce Screen Time: Time spent in front of a television, computer, tablet, cell phone or video games should be limited to two hours per day.

5. Sleep Well: Kids and adults need to keep a regular sleep schedule—10-12 hours per night for kids and seven to eight hours for adults.

 Stop by the Y to learn about all it has to offer you and your family.