Childhood obesity is now a national epidemic; the percentage of overweight young people has more than doubled since 1970.  Obesity effects the whole child, resulting in poor self-esteem, depression, reduced physical movement, diabetes, asthma, gallbladder disease, sleep apnea and other serious conditions.

Statistically, today’s children are at higher risk for serious health issues relating to poor eating habits. More than 27% of children ages 5-10 already have one or more risk factors for heart disease! A recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics reported that more than one-fourth of children in this age group had one or more adverse cardiovascular disease risk factorsresulting from both unhealthy eating habits and too little physical activity. The risk forheart disease of children doubles when compared to children of the same age at normal weight.

There are many more disturbing health trends effecting students today; as many as 30,000 children in the US have Type 2 Diabetes, once almost entirely limited to adults; 98% of children do not eat from the food guide pyramid as recommended; 85% do not eat fruit as recommended, and 70% do not drink milk as recommended.

Beginning at ages 5-10, children should be learning about nutrition to establish healthy eating habits, and the rewards of physical activity.