Childhood Obesity
Evidence increasingly identifies higher levels of physical inactivity (watching television and computer screen time), lower levels of moderate physical activity (active play), and excessive consumption of sugar sweetened beverages as critical contributors to the ever higher rates of childhood obesity. In infancy, breast feeding appears to provide some protection against later obesity.
Early on, NICHQ founder, Dr. Charles Homer, recognized the urgency of childhood obesity issues in the U.S. and was the first to address it as an epidemic spreading among our children. However, numerous studies indicated clinicians were unable to recognize overweight simply through observation or tracking regular growth charts, while use of age and gender standardized body mass index improves this recognition.
Based on this, NICHQ proposes clinical practices caring for children adopt a 5 point obesity prevention bundle (B-B-2-1-0)
- Breast feeding
- Body mass index
- Fewer than 2 hours of screen time (and no TV in rooms where children sleep)
- Greater than 1 hours of physical activity
- 0 sugar sweetened beverages
This builds on the 5-2-1 message developed by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and the 5-2-1-0 campaign used by the Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative.
NICHQ Provides Tools to Move Recommendations Into Action
The Implementation Guide was developed in 2007 and defines 3 key steps to the implementation of Expert Committee Recommendations: Assessment and Prevention, Treatment, and Policy.
NICHQ convenes the first National Congress on Accelerating Improvement in Childhood Obesity to safeguard our kids’ futures.
When NICHQ held the first National Congress on Accelerating Improvement in Childhood Obesity in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 20, 2006, many of our leaders in healthcare advanced the public discourse on this growing epidemic for the first time. Our work on Childhood Obesity strides confidently into the future by presenting the latest innovations, recommendations, and improved practices in healthcare practice and policy for Childhood Obesity. Our next National Congress on this subject of utmost importance takes place in conjuncture with our Annual Forum for Improving Children's Healthcare in Atlanta, March 8-11.
Learn about NICHQ's Annual Forum for Improving Children's Healthcare and the National Obesity Conference
Learn more about Childhood Obesity
