For a few months now, I have been talking about childhood obesity and some of the initiatives being launched to reverse the damage that has been done on this generation of children with expanding waistlines. If you don’t have children, it doesn’t take much to look around and see what is happening. If you are a parent, then you may very well know yourself either through your own children or their friend’s/classmates that this is a serious issue.
The Bush Administration recently held a meeting with the private sector to encourage a collaborative effort to get involved with the government to create awareness, encourage fitness and prevent obesity in children. Some of the attendees were Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Television; Don Thompson, President, McDonalds USA; Lance Friedmann, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Wellness and Sustainability, Kraft Foods, Inc. and Roger Enrico, Chairman of the Board, DreamWorks Animation SKG. These companies are directly involved in products that are geared towards children and can offer valuable solutions and help put childhood obesity at the forefront in American society.
While their initiative also touches on adult obesity, some of the programs and campaigns they hope to put in place are:
+ School wellness policies (I am already seeing this in my school district).
+ Generating greater access to public lands and National Parks to promote physical fitness.
+ Public messaging partnerships, which will include working with the advertising, entertainment, arts, food, and beverage industries to recognize achievements and increase support for obesity prevention initiatives.
+ Dietary and physical activity guidelines for Americans.
As a mother, I am delighted to see Nickelodeon get involved in this initiative. This is by far my kid’s favorite channel and although their TV time is limited, they are like sponges and soak up all the information that is given to them through their favorite shows. One program that Nickelodeon shows is Lazy Town. This show is what made me see the value a children’s program can bring into my home. Sportacus, a fitness superhero, taught the children the value of eating right and exercise. Since Sportacus was “cool,” my children wanted to imitate what he taught them. The creator of the series, Magnus Scheving, is a world-class athlete himself and is the lead character in the show.
Luckily I also live in the Pocono Mountains and my children have access to a variety of outdoor and physical activities such as hiking, fishing, biking and swimming. No matter if you live in an urban or rural area, there are always things you can do to promote physical activity and encourage healthy eating habits.
If your company is geared towards children, what steps are you taking to promote physical fitness and/or healthy eating habits? If you are a parent, we would also love your input!
Posted by Shannon Nelson on February 6, 2007 2:23 PM
| Permalink
