National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month is an annual event held in September in the United States. It was first designated in 2010 to draw attention to the rising numbers of overweight children in the country and to focus efforts on reducing this trend. The event has the support of federal, state, and local government agencies, the pediatric medical community, schools, and other organizations. The event’s focus is to increase awareness of the role issues such as food insecurity, financial struggles, the prevalence of sugary foods, increased screen time, reduced exercise time, stress, and poor sleep play in the development of obesity, especially in children. The month often features educational programs to help parents and other caregivers, schools, and the children themselves understand the consequences of childhood obesity and ways to combat this rising trend.

Background

Childhood obesity is a chronic disease that contributes to the development of diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancers. It is diagnosed when a child is significantly heavier than the recommended weight for a child of the same age, height, and sex. Medical professionals measure a child’s height and weight, then compare those measurements to a chart that compiles information for thousands of children and ranks them by percentiles. Percentiles are similar to percentages. Experts have determined that children whose weight falls between the fifth and eighty-fifth percentile ranges are a normal weight for their height, age, and sex. Those whose weight is between the eighty-fifth and ninety-fifth percentiles are diagnosed as overweight, and those whose weight is greater than the ninety-fifth percentile are diagnosed obese.

Medical experts are concerned about the rising trend in childhood obesity. They note that the number of obese children in the United States more than doubled between the 1990s and 2010s. For teens, the increase was even greater, with the number of teens with obesity tripling during that time frame. The rate of childhood obesity is generally greater in minorities and among those whose families have lower levels of education and income. Experts became especially concerned with the sudden jump in the prevalence of childhood obesity that were observed following the start of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. Some studies have indicated that the rate of weight increase nearly doubled from month to month during that time period, and the proportion of children considered obese increased five times faster during the height of the pandemic.

Overall, experts say that one in five American children can be diagnosed as obese. This puts them at greater risk for developing other diseases, including some that used to be found only in adults, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and heart conditions. However, they stress that the good news is that childhood obesity is largely preventable and that it can often be reversed, reducing the risk of developing these other conditions.

Overview

National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month was approved by a resolution of the US Senate in March 2010. The resolution was introduced by Senators Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and George V. Voinovich (R-OH). Similar legislation was introduced in the US House of Representatives by Representative Marcia Fudge (D-OH) and was followed up by a proclamation issued by President Barack Obama. Since then, September has been designated as a month to focus efforts on combating childhood obesity.

The focus of the month is on educating the public about the many contributing factors in the rising trend of childhood obesity. While being overweight is ultimately a result of taking in more calories than are used, experts say that many factors contribute to the habits that result in people struggling with their weight. They cite things such as the increasing number of products available that are filled with hidden sugars and the prevalent and targeted ad campaigns that make these foods appealing, especially to children.

Factors such as family education and income levels also contribute, as does where a person lives, since these all affect the cost of food and the types available, thus impacting the food choices a person makes. Food insecurity—when people live without access to a reliable source of nutritious food—is a considerable factor. Increased screen time for video games, social media, and binge-watching shows combined with decreased resources for physical activities both in and out of school are also counted as factors. During National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, efforts are made to draw attention to these factors and increase the efforts at all levels of the government to reduce their impact on children’s health.

Educational campaigns draw attention to food deserts, or areas in which few grocery stores where people can buy healthy foods exist. People who live in food deserts often rely on shelf-stable food products that are more available in corner stores and gas stations, and these high-fat, high-sugar foods contribute greatly to obesity in children and adults. Childhood Obesity Month efforts also promote the need for increased support for recess and physical education programs in schools and for team sports and other programs to keep children active outside of school. They also promote healthy eating and encourage legislators to bolster programs that help those with limited financial means to obtain healthy foods and the utilities they need to safely store and prepare them.

While National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month activities are often focused on the big-picture ways that governments, schools, and other organizations can combat obesity, experts say that individuals, families, and small groups can contribute to reducing the trend in many other ways as well. Some of these ways include:

Eating meals together as a family, so adults can model good eating habits such as portion control and limiting fatty and sugary foods

Limiting screen time and encouraging equal or greater amounts of time spent in physical activity

Supporting and encouraging physical activities for children, including unstructured play opportunities such as playground time, hiking, and swimming

Encouraging kids to learn how to garden and cook, whether in the family setting or in group settings such as a school, church, or club, to help them learn to love healthy foods

Supporting and promoting programs that address food deserts and food insecurity, such as community gardens that bring food to underserved areas and food pantries that help those in need.

Bibliography

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“National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.” District 10 Health Department, www.dhd10.org/national-childhood-obesity-awareness-month/. Accessed 14 June 2022.

Sanyaolu, Adekunle, et al. “Childhood and Adolescent Obesity in the United States: A Public Health Concern.” Global Pediatric Health, vol. 6, 2019. DOI: 10.1177/2333794X19891305. Accessed 1 May 2024.

“Senate Passes Resolution to Designate September ‘National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.’” Kirsten Gillibrand, United States Senator for New York, 29 Mar. 2010, www.gillibrand.senate.gov/news/press/release/senate-passes-resolution-to-designate-september-national-childhood-obesity-awareness-month. Accessed 1 May 2024.

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