Just for Kids
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Your child's lifestyle affects his or her weight. A healthy weight usually comes naturally when a person of any age:
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Those three healthy habits work together to help a child grow normally and to stay fit and healthy. Those habits will help make sure your child:
- gets the needed energy, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients
- develops strong organs, muscles and bones
- burns off extra calories so that they are not stored as excess fat.
When those healthy habits are not practiced, physical, mental, emotional or social problems may develop over time. Some of those problems may last into adulthood. Teens who are overweight are more likely to be overweight as adults. Overweight adults have a greater chance of health problems, like:
- high blood pressure
- diabetes
- heart disease
- arthritis
- certain kinds of cancer.
Today's lifestyle makes it harder to keep up healthy habits. Many of us sit for hours in cars or at desks, in front of TVs ad computers. We eat out more often, usually big portions that are loaded with fat and calories.
Your child learns many of their habits from you. That's why it is important that you help your child develop healthy habits now.
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Check out LiVE, a NEW health campaign for children ages 11-15 and their parents! |
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We Can! or "Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition" is a national program designed for families and communities to help children achieve a healthy weight. Learn more about the program. |
Do you know your child's habits? Take the quiz now.