This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

HHS: September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Add topic to email alerts

Receive an email when new articles are posted on

Please provide your email address to receive an email when new articles are posted on .

Subscribe

Added to email alerts

You've successfully added to your alerts. You will receive an email when new content is published.

Click Here to Manage Email Alerts

You've successfully added to your alerts. You will receive an email when new content is published.

Click Here to Manage Email Alerts

Back to Healio

We were unable to process your request. Please try again later. If you continue to have this issue please contact customerservice@slackinc.com.

Back to Healio

According to a news release issued by the US Department of Health & Human Services, and a statement by Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, September marks the start of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.

“Over the past 30 years, the childhood obesity rate in America has almost tripled. According to the CDC, in 2010, approximately 17% of children and adolescents aged 2 to 19 years were already obese. Children and teenagers who are obese are more likely to become obese adults. Overweight and obese youth are at greater risk of developing serious adult health problems such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, certain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis,” Sebelius’ statement read.

The US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) has created several programs to address children’s health, including the President’s Council on Fitness, Sports and Nutrition; the CDC; and the National Institutes of Health’s We Can! program. In the coming months, HHS and the President’s Council are expected to announce further initiatives geared toward children’s health and fitness, according to the statement.