NuPAFP ConferenceNuPAFP ConferenceOctober 13-14, 2010October 13-14, 2010NuPAFP ConferenceNuPAFP ConferenceOctober 13-14, 2010October 13-14, 2010

Color Me HealthyColor Me Healthy

Childhood Obesity

• Obesity is a serious health concern for children and adolescents.

• Obese children and adolescents are at risk for health problems during their youth and as adults and are more likely to become obese as adults.

Defining Childhood Overweight & Obesity

• Overweight is defined as a BMI at or above the 85th percentile and lower than the 95th percentile.

• Obesity is defined as a BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex.

Childhood Obesity• The imbalance between

calories consumed and calories used can result from the influences and interactions of a number of factors, including genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

• It is the interactions among these factors – rather than any single factor – that is thought to cause obesity.

Behavioral Contributors to Childhood Overweight and Obesity

• Eating Habits: Large portion sizes for food and beverages, eating meals away from home, snacking on energy-dense foods and consuming beverages with added sugar

• Physical activity: Participating in physical activity is important for children and teens.

• Sedentary behavior: Positive association between the time spent viewing television and increased prevalence of obesity in children

Environmental Contributors to Childhood Overweight and Obesity• Within the home: Parent-child interactions and the home

environment can affect the behaviors of children and youth related to calorie intake and physical activity.

• Within child care: Child care providers are sharing responsibility with parents for children during important developmental years. Child care can be a setting in which healthy eating and physical activity habits are developed.

• Within the community: The built environment within communities influences access to physical activity opportunities and access to affordable and healthy foods.

Childhood Obesity: Implications

• The consequences of childhood overweight and obesity may mean a generation of children living shorter life spans than their parents.

Childhood Obesity in Low-Income Children• 14.8% of low-income children ages 2-5

years old are obese compared with 12.4% for all U.S. children of the same age.

• Highest obesity rates are seen in American Indian and Alaska Native children and Latino children.

Childhood Obesity in Virginia

Virginia WIC data:-16% overweight-12% “at risk” for overweight

F as in Fat:23rd highest rate of youth obesity– 15.7% Overweight– 15.2% Obese

CDC Recommended Strategies

– Increase physical activity– Increase consumption of fruits & vegetables– Decrease consumption of sugar-sweetened

beverages– Increase breastfeeding initiation, duration,

and exclusivity– Reduce consumption of energy-dense foods– Decrease screen time

Color Me Healthy

– Increase physical activity

– Increase consumption of fruits & vegetables

– Reduce consumption of energy-dense foods

– Decrease screen time

Color Me Healthy• Developed to reach

preschool-aged children with fun, interactive learning opportunities on physical activity and healthy eating.

• Through the use of  color, music, and exploration of the senses, Color Me Healthy teaches children that healthy food and physical activity are fun. 

Color Me Healthy Implementation• Will be used as a group education tool in WIC clinics.

• 1 English and 1 Spanish toolkit will be provided to each WIC clinic.

• Will focus on 4 of the Color Me Healthy lessons that are consistent with the CHAMPION Obesity prevention messages:– Eat More Fruits and Veggies!: Eat a Rainbow of Colors– Be Active, Get Moving!: I Can Feel My Heart Beat– Move More, Watch Less: Instead of Watching TV I

Could…– Be Wise About Portion Size: Snack Attack