Obesity

With childhood obesity on the rise, parents, educators, and policymakers are increasingly concerned with how to get young kids eating healthier foods. The New York Times looks at 6 common mistakes parents make when it comes to children and food--and offers recommendations for reversing them.

Photo by flickr user churl, used under a Creative Commons license.

When was the last time you walked from home to the market? The hardware store? Your office? Can't remember? Your subdivision may be a few decades too young.

A study to be released in the September issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine (and cited in today's New York Times), found that people who live in older neighborhoods appear less likely to be overweight. The key is walkability. The researchers surveyed more than 450,000 residents of Salt Lake City, UT—examining which communities' environments encouraged residents to drive less and walk more.

According to lead author Dr. Ken. R. Smith, from the University of Utah, each extra decade in a neighborhood's age corresponded to a 13 percent drop in the risk of obesity for men, and 8 percent for women. Not only did old neighborhoods have better, tree-lined sidewalks, they also have places to go —parks, schools, and restaurants. As Dr. Smith says, most people "want something to walk to."

Remember Phys. Ed? Or recess? You know, that chance to run around during the school day and burn off steam -- and calories?

Well, Congress seems to have been doing some remembering too.

During the last two weeks, Congress heard quite a lot about childhood obesity. The Senate HELP committee had not just one, but two hearings. Doctors, public health experts, economists, and community activists substantiated the fact that one in three of America's children can be defined as obese, and described the immense economic and logistical burden this will place on our already strained health system. On a more encouraging note, several witnesses described initiatives where these challenges are being successfully addressed. For example, the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA has added more subsidized after-school programs that encourage physical activity; provided a service that lets people order fresh fruit from their local YMCA; and have "Y" board members get involved with local building commissions and school boards—getting their communities to recognize the value of sidewalks and P.E.

Boston Launches Birth to Five Initiative

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino announced plans on Thursday for a 10 year program to expand and streamline early education services for Beantown’s youngest learners. The public-private partnership, "Thrive in Five", will align educators, health and human service providers, city departments and the private sector to connect families with local services and ensure that day-care providers offer high-quality pre-k programs. The City of Boston, The United Way, local hospitals and others have already committed $3.25 million for the program. Boston's schools have made significant progress under Menino's leadership, and working to extend those education improvements down into the early years is a logical next step.