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Childhood obesity

Research continues to show that many adolescents have poor eating habits and decreased physical activity. To help, the Davis County Health Department is offering two free workshop series called BodyWorks to help parents and caregivers teach youngsters how to eat right and exercise, habits that will last a lifetime, says Dr. Jonelle Rowe, senior medical adviser for adolescent women’s health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This Standard-Examiner file photo from 2000 shows youngsters doing leg lift exercises at a Lady Fitness class in Layton.

Want a fitter family? BodyWorks classes might help

Last updated Saturday, March 31, 2012 - 6:21pm

CLEARFIELD — The health, weight, eating behaviors, physical activity — or the lack of it — and the body image of Utah’s youths are growing concerns for Davis County Health Department officials.

In response, the department is offering two free BodyWorks program workshops.

Events, Adolescence, Behavior, cardiovascular disease, Childhood obesity, Children, Chronic diseases, Davis County Health Department, Diabetes, Eating behavior, Family, Fitness, Fitness Program, Health, Nutrition, Obesity, Overweight, Physical fitness, Utah, Utah Department of Health, Weight, Weight loss, Workshops, Featured Read more Comments

Disney closes new exhibit after criticism for stigmatizing fat kids

Marni Jameson The Orlando Sentinel

Last updated Thursday, March 1, 2012 - 5:13pm

ORLANDO, Fla. -- Epcot's new Habit Heroes attraction, which tackles childhood obesity, has landed in big fat trouble.

Shortly after its unofficial opening last month, the interactive exhibit was blasted by critics for stigmatizing fat kids. Now, Disney has closed the Innoventions exhibit for "retooling."

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FILE - In this Sept. 20, 2011 file photo, Nancy Henderson, home economic coordinator for the fresh fruit and vegetables program, reads a story to students before they receive fruit snacks during a lesson in healthy eating at Northeast Elementary Magnet, in Danville, Ill. Northeast offers no junk food for sale to its students, but a new study found that almost half the nation's elementary schools do. (AP Photo/Seth Perlman, File)

Study finds easy access to junk food at elementary schools

Jeannine Stein Los Angeles Times

Last updated Monday, February 6, 2012 - 6:51pm

Think your kid isn't tempted by junk food while at school? A study finds that about half of kids surveyed from public and private school had ready access to vending machines, snack bars, school stores and a la carte lines. And they're not just selling carrot sticks.

The study, released Monday in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, looked at the foods children had access to at various spots on campus during lunch time, in what they termed "competitive venues."

Childhood obesity, Children, Elementary Schools, Healthy eating, Junk food, Research, School lunches, National Read more Comments

Kids have higher obesity risk if dad is fat

Jeannine Stein Los Angeles Times

Last updated Friday, January 20, 2012 - 3:58pm

Kids might be at higher risk for obesity if Dad is overweight, a study suggests.

Other studies have shown an association between two overweight parents and higher weight in their children, and weight relationships between fathers and sons and mothers and daughters. Researchers in this study, published in the January issue of the International Journal of Obesity, measured the height and weight of children from 3,285 two-parent families in Australia in 2004, when the children were ages 4 and 5, and again in 2008 when they were ages 8 and 9.

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Kids' removal from home for obesity bad news

Nara Schoenberg Chicago Tribune

Last updated Tuesday, January 3, 2012 - 10:33am

Marla Richter comes from, to use her term, a "fat family." Her mom was fat, as are her kids and most of her grandkids. So a recent case hit home: A 219-pound Cleveland third-grader was taken from his mother by child welfare officials, because of his obesity.

Richter, 61, of Corinth, Texas, says a 13-year-old relative who weighs more than 200 pounds saw a news report on the case and immediately tried to nix an upcoming medical appointment. "I'm not going to the doctor now," Richter quoted the girl as saying. "No way. I'm not going to be taken away from my mother."

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