National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
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We sent out a survey in the August Newsletter asking OH Members, Family and Friends a few questions about childhood obesity. A special thanks to all who participated. The responses were enlightening and incredibly impactful!
One central point we learned from our participants is that their struggle with obesity began at a young age. Of those taking our survey, 85% indicated that they were overweight or obese as a child or teen. This response alone speaks volumes and it shows how very important the need for Childhood Obesity Awareness has always been to our community.
Others see the need for awareness too. On March 26, 2010 a resolution was unanimously passed in the Senate to designate September 2010 as "National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month".
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S. Res. 412: A resolution designating September 2010 as "National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month"
This is an excerpt from the text of the bill (status: Agreed to Senate).
Resolved, That the Senate--
(1) designates September 2010 as ‘National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month’ in order to raise public awareness and mobilize the country to address childhood obesity;
(2) recognizes the importance of preventing childhood obesity and decreasing its prevalence in the United States; and
(3) requests that the President issue a proclamation calling on the Federal Government, States, tribes and tribal organizations, localities, schools, nonprofit organizations, businesses, other entities, and the people of the United States to observe the month with appropriate programs and activities with the goal of promoting healthy eating and physical activity and increasing awareness of childhood obesity among individuals of all ages and walks of life.
(Source: GovTrack.us.)
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It is clearly identifiable that obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents in the United States, but it is much more than that. We know firsthand from our ObesityHelp.com members in other countries that people all over the world are impacted by obesity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) an estimated 22 million children worldwide under the age of five years are considered to be overweight.
The epidemic of childhood obesity is rampant in our society. With our communities combined understanding and experiences, the goal of awareness, treatment and prevention can become more of a priority than ever before. As a community, this can be our opportunity to help increase awareness and implement change within our own homes, locally, state-wide, as a united country and worldwide .
Some of Your Voices:
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"I don't ever remembering being "normal" sized."
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"I was born fat...9.5 lbs. Docs thought my mother was having twins but it was just me."
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"I struggled with my weight my whole life. My first structured diet was when my mother signed me up for Weight Watchers at the age of 11."
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"I was always overweight and remember my first "diet" in 4th grade. Oh how much of an outcast I felt taking my sack lunch every day with the same ham sandwich and carrots. Very tough for an elementary school kid to do."
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"I was obese as a child because I needed to belong to the "Clean Plate Club" as it was called. I just learned food was my friend and ate and ate all the time."
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"Mom took me to weight watchers when I was 7."
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"I was a binge eater starting at 4 years old. I "yo-yo'd" as a child. I am 5'9". From ages 14-21, I went from weighing 180 pounds to weighing 441 pounds. I first had sleep apnea as a freshman in high school."
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"I became "chubby" at around age 4."
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"Weighed over 200 pounds at age 12."
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"I was overweight since I was 6 years old."
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"By the 5th grade I was as tall and as big or bigger then most of the teachers."
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"Yes, fatty fatty two by four jokes, fat and skinny had a race up and down my pillow case, fatty said it wasn’t fair cause she lost her underwear. I always got the valentines with the dancing hippos and whales, elephants in dresses, I was picked last for sports. Kids called me a fat slob, a pi, etc."
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"The first comment I remember was being called "Thunder Thighs" in fourth grade. I wasn't even 100 pounds, I just weighed more than the other kids. It was devastating."
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"I was called pregnant at 6. Boys used to run away, afraid I would sit on them and crush them."
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Join the Conversation and Take Action!
1. Share your voice, your experience! If you find an article that really means something to you, please join the conversation at the bottom of each article in the comments section.
2. Pass it on! Share any article that you find helpful with others, you can utilize the
3. Spread awareness, encourage change, get involved! Continue discussions and sharing everywhere. Create message board posts, blog, talk to your family and friends. Join the PTA, attend a school board meeting or talk to staff in your school district. Ask them what they are doing to combat childhood obesity. You can attend town board meetings, start or join in on petitions making sure your local legislators know how you feel about obesity prevention and treatment.
