"Nutrition for Kids," published by the Obesity Prevention Foundation, is a resource for parents who want to help their kids avoid weight gain. The article includes a brief overview of childhood obesity and talks about the leading causes of the problem, such as sedentary activities and unhealthy food marketed toward children. Following this introduction, the article lays out the top ten most important tips to improve a child's health and fitness. Barring a few grammatical errors, these tips are excellent and cover every base--fast food, snacks, exercise, etc. They are specific, detailed, and they offer many examples to supplement their advice. The article provides two bonus tips, which are more broad but still very helpful. Any parent could benefit greatly by applying these suggestions at home.
"Childhood Obesity" is an article written by the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It draws from close to a hundred resources to provide an analysis of childhood obesity causes in America, including sedentary lifestyle, eating habits, lack of physical activity, socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, genetics, and food advertising. The article accurately portrays the complexity of the issue, examining the contributing factors in detail and assessing their levels of impact. Several studies are mentioned or evaluated, and every document used to write the article is included in the extensive footnote section. There are also a few charts to highlight important aspects of the article. Anyone who wants to understand the source of the childhood obesity epidemic would find this article interesting and informative.
"Obesity in Children and Teens" is an online information sheet published by the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. It provides an excellent overview of every aspect of childhood obesity--definition, causes, risks, prevention, and solutions. The document is concise, but specific and informative; it includes several easy-to-read bulleted lists and the layout is very reader-friendly. While broad, it is a great resource for parents who are just beginning to learn about the issue and don't know where to start. Since every major topic is briefly discussed, parents can then specifically search for a more narrow article about any topics that they find interesting.
"Childhood Obesity: The Risks, Warnings, and Long-term Effects" is an article written by Dr. Laurie Betts, a program officer at a health and wellness foundation in Pottstown, PA. She directly appeals to parents, asserting that it is their responsibility to be aware of their children's physical well-being. The article includes some facts and statistics about childhood obesity in America, as well as detailed lists of the risk factors for a child's becoming overweight or obese, telltale warning signs that a child is becoming overweight, and the potential physical and psychological effects of childhood obesity. There is also a link to Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" program website. If parents are interested in an outline of the general risks and effects of obesity, this is a great resource to begin with.
American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry. “Obesity in Children and Teens.” 79 (2008). Web. 27 March 2011.
Betts, Laurie. "Childhood Obesity: The Risks, Warnings and Long-term Effects." Berks-Mont News, 21 Nov. 2010. Web. 27 March 2011.
"Childhood Obesity." U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, n.d. Web. 27 March 2011.
"Nutrition for Kids." Obesity Prevention Foundation, n.d. Web. 27 March 2011.
