Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and [...]]]>

Childhood obesity is a serious problem across our nation. Fortunately, help is coming, with the first lady herself joining the fight.

Michelle Obama was recently named honorary chair of the newly formed Partnership for a Healthier America. Founded by six leading foundations and nonprofits, including Kaiser Permanente, this organization was formed to combat childhood obesity.

The four pillars of the first lady's plan

Earlier this month, Michelle Obama laid out the four pillars of her nationwide initiative to fight childhood obesity. Her "Let's Move" campaign will address the issue in the following four ways:

• offering parents the tools and information they need to make healthy choices for their kids
• getting healthier food into our nation's schools
• ensuring that all our families have access to healthy, affordable food in their communities
• increasing opportunities for kids to be physically active, both in and out of school

Good health is in our DNA

"In every community we serve, Kaiser Permanente works to fight obesity, reduce health disparities, and make healthy food and physical activity a part of everyday life," said Raymond J. Baxter, PhD, Kaiser Permanente's senior vice president, Community Benefit, Research and Health Policy.

From extending access to public pools and providing swim lessons for thousands of Southern California families through Operation Splash to sponsoring farmers' markets in local communities across the country, we've long supported healthy eating and physical activity as part of our integrated approach to combat childhood obesity.

Ultimately, our biggest partner in this battle is you. Visit our Healthy Kids section for a collection of helpful posts, including how to determine the appropriate weight for your child by calculating their body mass index.

To read our full statement on this important issue, visit our News Center.

BMI stands for Body Mass Index, and it's calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of health for most people, including children and teens.

Pediatrician Marla Abrolat, MD, says it is an important number that parents can use to gauge and help improve the health of [...]]]> BMI stands for Body Mass Index, and it's calculated from a person's weight and height. BMI is a reliable indicator of health for most people, including children and teens.

Pediatrician Marla Abrolat, MD, says it is an important number that parents can use to gauge and help improve the health of their children.

"We calculate BMI and then obtain a percentile ranking that shows parents where their children stand," she says. "Especially in regard to weight."

But Dr. Abrolat cautions that BMI isn't just about an arbitrary weight measurement and it doesn't mean that children should be skipping meals and not "putting food in the tank."

For growing children and teens the most important percentile is BMI-for-age, which takes growth, age, and sex into account.

One way to determine BMI-for-age is to start by calculating your child's BMI. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has a simple BMI calculator that you can use online.

Children and teens aged 2 through 19 years should be screened to determine if they are overweight or obese. If your child’s BMI indicates that there may be a problem, there are steps that can be taken immediately. But remember, BMI is not the only diagnostic tool to determine the health of your child or teen. Schedule a visit with you pediatrician for more information.

Learn more details from the CDC on BMI and see sample growth charts.

Did you know that infants—6 months and younger—cannot be vaccinated for the H1N1 flu? That’s why their caregivers should be vaccinated to protect them.

Learn who should be vaccinated for the H1N1 flu.

Did you know that younger children with H1N1 may be contagious for longer periods of time? Learn how to spot the symptoms and treat the H1N1 flu.

Answer honestly: Are you getting enough sleep? What about your kids?

Pediatrician Marla Abrolat, MD, says many children are suffering from lack of sleep, just like their parents. According to Dr. Abrolat, more than 80 percent of teens aren’t getting enough sleep, which can lead to poor concentration at school and [...]]]> Answer honestly: Are you getting enough sleep? What about your kids?

Pediatrician Marla Abrolat, MD, says many children are suffering from lack of sleep, just like their parents. According to Dr. Abrolat, more than 80 percent of teens aren’t getting enough sleep, which can lead to poor concentration at school and cause even more serious problems.

"Many of the car accidents teens get into are related to lack of sleep," Dr. Abrolat says. "They don’t have the same insight and history of driving as we do, so they are much more susceptible to making mistakes when deprived of sleep."

Think you have a handle on healthy sleep habits? Answer a few simple questions to see if you’re sleep savvy.

1. How many hours of sleep do kids need?

A. Whatever makes them happy

B. 6 to 8 hours, like adults

C. It depends on age

A. Try again. It’s important that you monitor the amount of sleep your child gets.

B. Try again. Even eight hours isn’t enough for your teen.

C. You got it! Age is the biggest factor. The younger your child, the more sleep he or she needs:

• Newborn to one year old: 16 hours
• One year old: 13 to 14 hours
• Preschool to kindergarten: 10 hours including a nap
• Grade school to high school: Nine hours.

2. On average, are our children getting enough sleep?

A. Yes

B. No

A. Maybe babies, but not the rest. Dr. Abrolat says more than half of grade school children and a shocking 80 percent of high school students aren’t getting the sleep they need.

B. Correct. While babies tend to get enough sleep, our grade school and high school children get far less (50 percent and 80 percent) than they should.

3. What are some of the signs that your child is not getting enough sleep?

A. Hyperactivity

B. Crankiness

C. Disorganized napping

D. Difficulty concentrating

A. Yes. Believe it or not, younger kids often become hyperactive and fidgety when they haven’t had enough sleep.

B. Yes. Children of all ages can become moody when sleep deprived.

C. Yes. High school students are especially prone to taking after-school naps that further interrupts the sleep routine.

D. Yes. Concentration is one of the first things to suffer with sleep deprivation, affecting the quality of schoolwork.

4. What can parents do to help kids get more sleep?

A. Make sure they eat right and get plenty of exercise

B. Remove electronics from their rooms

C. Set routines

D. Make weekends count

A. Yes. Healthy and balanced kids sleep better—it’s that simple.

B. Yes. Getting rid of electronics gets rid of the temptation to stay up late. TV, video games, and texting are often the causes of sleep deprivation, especially for teenagers.

C. Yes. Children need routines, and setting them early will help set their internal clocks for a lifetime. For youngsters, try "book, bath, bed" to help them transition to sleep.

D. Yes. Many parents let their children stay up too late on the weekends. This can make for "jet lag" Mondays, and hurt patterns throughout the week. Try to make weekend bedtime within 1 to 2 hours of the school-night schedule.

]]> http://thrivewithkp.org/healthy-kids/fortify-your-kids-with-vitamin-zzzs/feed/ 0 http://thrivewithkp.org/healthy-kids/how-can-you-green-your-babys-nursery-and-why-is-it-important/ http://thrivewithkp.org/healthy-kids/how-can-you-green-your-babys-nursery-and-why-is-it-important/#comments Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:26:31 +0000 admin11kcesarz http://thrivewithkp.org/?p=1752 Click here to view the embedded video.

Making your newborn’s nursery “green” isn’t just good for the environment; it’s also preventive medicine for you! Kaiser Permanente’s green guru Kathy Gerwig shares tips on creating a healthy space for the newest member of the family.

• Provide your kids with a safe environment to explore.

• Teach them healthy habits now (like how to eat well, enjoy exercise, and think positively), so they’ll always have them.

• Join them! Get out there and have fun with your kids. They'll thrive more when you thrive with them.

— Marla [...]]]>

• Provide your kids with a safe environment to explore.

• Teach them healthy habits now (like how to eat well, enjoy exercise, and think positively), so they’ll always have them.

• Join them! Get out there and have fun with your kids. They'll thrive more when you thrive with them.

— Marla Abrolat, MD
Kaiser Permanente Pediatrician

Fighting obesity becomes a family affair with the “Amazing Food Detective.” Loel Solomon gives common-sense tips that can create a healthier lifestyle for everyone in the home.

Psychiatrist Donald Mordecai, MD, gives valuable tips on how parents can talk to their children about sensitive health issues.