Steps We Can Take To Reduce Childhood Obesity? Helping children, families, and you, understand the importance of a healthy weight.

Last week I was asked by the WE CAN! campaign if I would help them get the word out about this important program. In response I did a post on BlogHer addressing all the aspects of this important program, the benefits, and how everyone can get involved. Even though this is a program to help reduce childhood obesity, the information focuses on the whole family becoming more active and more conscious of their food choices.

There is so much great information at the WE CAN! site that provides important nutritional and activity guidelines for a healthy life, that we can all benefit from. For that reason, I wanted to also address this program on this site. I hope you will find helpful information and additional links to sites you may not have been aware of.

Let me highlight some of the information that families and individuals can start doing right now to improve their overall health and wellbeing.

What is a healthy weight? What is BMI? Why is a healthy weight important?

Healthy Weight for Life.

What is Energy Balance?

Balancing Nutrition

Making family time Fun Time.

The WE CAN! site also provides links to many important government programs. Use the links below to visit other government Web sites for more information on the topics of nutrition, energy balance, physical activity, and overweight and obesity.

National Institutes of Health (NIH) http://www.nih.gov

• NIH Obesity Research
• NHLBI Adult Body Mass Index (BMI) calculator
• NHLBI Clinical Guidelines on the Identification, Evaluation, and Treatment of Overweight and Obesity in Adults
• NCI Cancer Control PLANET

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services http://www.hhs.gov

• Steps to a Healthier U.S.
• U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2005
• Healthier US.Gov

President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports http://www.fitness.gov/

• President’s Challenge

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention http://www.cdc.gov

• Overweight and Obesity
• Nutrition and Physical Activity
• VERB™
• Eat 5 to 9 A Day
• 5 al Día

U.S. Food and Drug Administration http://www.fda.gov

• Food Label Education Tools and General Information
• Consumer Nutrition and Health Information
• Information about Losing Weight and Maintaining a Healthy Weight

U.S. Department of Agriculture http://www.usda.gov

• Eat Smart, Play Hard™