Outreach program aims to reduce childhood obesity

June 2, 2010

By Dr. Barry B. Darucar Lake Oconee Breeze Lake Oconee Breeze Wed Jun 02, 2010, 08:00 AM EDT

LAKE OCONEE — WE CAN, Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition, is a public education outreach program designed to help children stay at a healthy weight by improving food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing computer and TV time. The program is a collaboration of four institutes of the National Institute of Health- the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLB), The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NDDK), the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD) and the National Cancer Institute (NCI).

First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a national campaign against childhood obesity. The nation’s top health officials and the first lady have stated that unless something is done to reduce childhood obesity, America’s children are on track to live shorter lives than their parents for the first time in US history. As many as one in three children are overweight or obese and the situation is even worse in Georgia. The state ranks No. 3 in childhood obesity, behind only Mississippi and Arkansas, according to a report last year by the nonprofit Trust for America’s Health. More than 37 percent of Georgians aged 10-17 are obese.

TenderCare Clinic’s Health Education Department conducts a free weekly Weight Off Wisely program which is open to adults and adolescents, educating and encouraging participants to live a healthier lifestyle by making wiser food choices and incorporating more physical activity into their daily routine. TenderCare’s Health Educators also offer free seminars to parents of the Pre-K program at TenderCare Preschool in the areas of nutrition, exercise, stress management, and smart grocery shopping. If you are interested in preventing childhood obesity in your community, contact Pam Luke, Health Education Coordinator at TenderCare (706) 454-5163.

— Dr. Barry B. Darugar is a general surgeon with TenderCare Clinic loated at 803 S. Main St., Greensboro.

Text Only

Healthy Living

Processed meats: Friend or Foe?
Question from our inbox:
I’ve been told that Nitrates and Nitrites are bad for you. Can you tell me what they are and how I can avoid them in my diet.
MHC

February 2, 2012
Couples should address the ‘elephant’ in the room
You have probably heard the expression, “there’s an elephant in the room and nobody’s talking about it”.

February 2, 2012
Jealousy, envy are reflections of insecurity
Jealousy and envy are character flaws.

January 26, 2012
Food can play a role in how you sleep
Believe it or not, food can play a role in how you sleep.

January 26, 2012
Is your home a sanctuary?
First of all what or where is “home?”

January 18, 2012
How to decide which oil is best for you
Believe it or not, food can play a role in how you sleep.

January 18, 2012
Want a good relationship? Develop a plan and script
Does anyone go into a relationship consciously wishing that it would go bad?

January 4, 2012
12 foods for the new year of 2012
Happy New Year! With this the start of 2012 and everyone attempting to conquer the world with their new year’s resolutions, I thought I’d make things simple.

January 4, 2012
New beginnings are possible: Meet ‘Caveman’
A new year approaches — a new beginning. Beginnings offer optimism and hope of what might be possible.

December 28, 2011
New Year’s Resolution — for life
How long do you think the average New Year’s resolution lasts?

December 28, 2011
More Healthy Living Headlines

Healthy Living

Search Results

Outreach program aims to reduce childhood obesity

Site Map

Contact Us