Childhood Obesity: A Call to Action

Abstract

Abstract

The obesity epidemic in the United States, especially among our young people, is becoming more evident and attracting attention from professionals and communities across the nation. Not only is it important to identify and understand the complexity of this disease, but the role of each group that will design and implement childhood obesity prevention programs must be identified as well. In order to prevent children from becoming overweight or obese, collaborative efforts among communities, schools, parents, physicians, nurses, dietitians, and the media are needed to design programs and educate the adult population to prevent children from becoming overweight or obese, and to educate children who are overweight or obese about nutrition and exercise habits so as not to carry obesity into adulthood.