Activate Miami County

BY JAMES S. BURKHARDT, D.O.

             The elections are over and results are in.  Some people and bills won and some lost.  Now that the “electile dysfunction” is behind us, we can move on with our own lives and what matters on a day to day basis.

            No matter what your political leanings may be, First Lady Michelle Obama has launched a program called Let’s Move, which is something we can all support.  This initiative is to reduce the rate of childhood obesity. 

            Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese.  The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese.  If we don’t solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives.  Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma. 

            Here in Miami County a group has been formed to raise awareness about the dangers and risks of childhood obesity and to propose strategies to reduce the worsening trend.   This group, Activate Miami County, has begun the task of compiling information about our school children across the entire county. 

            Initiated by the YMCA, funded by a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, this group represents a group of educators, health professionals, businessmen and women, city government workers and others. 

            The first step is to find out where things stand.  To do that, measurements of height and weight will be converted to BMI data.  “This will be strictly confidential,” says YMCA Director, Jim McMaken.  “This will be a collaborative effort between the schools in the county and Activate Miami County.  Thus, it will enable the information to trended over time to determine the effectiveness of programs and policies,” continued Mr. McMaken.

            While the information is being compiled, there are things that can be done.  Here are some ideas and tips that you can begin to implement at home.

            Physical activity is an essential component of a healthy lifestyle.  In combination with healthy eating, it can help prevent a range of chronic diseases including heart disease, cancer, stroke, which are the three leading causes of death.  Physical activity helps control weight, builds lean muscle, reduces fat, promotes strong bone, muscle and joint development, and decreases the risk of obesity.  Children need 60 minutes of play with moderate to vigorous activity every day to grow up to a healthy weight. 

            If this sounds like a lot, consider that eight to 18 year old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media including TV, computers, video games, cell phone and movies in a typical day, and only on-third of high school students get the recommended levels of physical activity.  To increase physical activity, today’s children need safe routes to walk and bike ride to school, parks, playgrounds and community centers where they can play after school, and activities like sports, dance or fitness programs that are exciting and challenging enough to keep them engaged. 

            Parents and caregivers should set rules that reduce “screen time” by limiting the amount of time children spend on the computer, watching TV and playing video games.  The time spent in front of the screen could be better spent being more physically active. 

Limit total screen time to no more than 2 hours daily. 

            Don’t put a TV or computer in your child’s bedroom.  Kids who have TV in their room tend to watch about 1.5 hours more TV per day than those who don’t.  In addition, having a TV in their bedroom can keep kids from spending time with the rest of the family. 

            A busy family can benefit from food that’s nutritious and easy to eat on-the-go, like fresh fruits and vegetables.  Fruits and vegetables are a natural source of energy and give bodies the nutrients they need to keep going. 

            Fruits and vegetable are great sources of many vitamins and minerals and help prevent chronic diseases.  Try eating fruits and vegetables of different colors to give your family a wide range of valuable nutrients like fiber, folate, potassium, and vitamins A and C.  Some examples include green spinach, orange sweet potatoes, black beans, yellow corn, purple plums, red watermelon, and white onions.  Encourage children to try new fruits and vegetables regularly. 

            Activate Miami County will assist in reducing the trends that are making our children unhealthy.  For more information on Activate Miami County contact Jim McMaken at 773-9622.