Small Town News

Quiet campaign helps kids lose weight

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Editorial

After only five years, a little program with an unlikely name has significantly improved the health of children in Sussex County.

A 2006 study by Nemours Health and Prevention Services found more than one in three Delaware children were overweight or obese. As sad as that is for those children, it's also bad news for everyone, because children who are obese are likely to have higher healthcare costs than other children, and obesity is linked to serious health problems, including diabetes and heart disease.

Responding to this health crisis, Nemours has united a statewide coalition of agencies, schools, parents and others around a single goal: reduce the rate of obesity by getting kids to eat better and play more.

The campaign, which starts with the slogan "5-2-1 Almost None," is relatively simple. It asks children to eat five fruits or vegetables a day, spend no more than two hours in front of a television or computer, get one hour of physical activity every day and when it comes to sugary soft drinks, limit them to "almost none."

In addition to promoting 5-2-1 Almost None,

in Sussex County, Sussex Child Health Coalition also organizes community-supported walks and activities, set up distribution of healthy foods to local families and offers health screenings and a camp for teens with weight problems. It's easy to scoff at this kind of initiative as just one more example of well-meaning people sitting around thinking up yet another way to spend tax dollars; both Delaware and Sussex County have contributed funds to this campaign.

As unlikely as it may seem, this campaign is working. Whilethe obesity rate continues to climb across the United States, in Sussex County, the rate has decreased 2.3 percent.

There was a time when parents were the ones who ensured that children ate their vegetables and got outside to play. But the alarming rise in obesity nationwide clearly shows many parents need support to encourage their children to adopt a healthy lifestyle. The 5-2-1 Almost None campaign and related activities in Sussex County show setting clear guidelines and holding events that back them up is a simple strategy, but one that can pay off - for children and for everyone.





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