WASHINGTON, June 1, 2005
Kids Targeted In Fight Vs. Obesity
NIH Program Teaches Them, Parents About Nutrition, Exercise
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Play CBS Video Video Curbing Childhood Obesity On The Early Show, U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona discusses a new campaign called 'We Can!' which aims to educate parents and children about proper nutrition and fitness.
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U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona on The Early Show Wednesday (CBS/The Early Show)
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Interactive Food Pyramid The government's latest guidelines for healthy eating get personal.
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Quiz Are You Food Savvy? Have you consumed myths about diet and nutrition? Take these quizzes to find out.
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Interactive Diet And Nutrition Are you eating right? See the government's guidelines, calculate your body mass index and quiz yourself on healthy food choices.
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The campaign is dubbed "We Can!" That stands for "Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition."
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona told The Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Wednesday, "We now have 9 million children who are overweight or obese. We're starting to see children with type 2 diabetes. You never used to see diabetes in children when I was a young doctor. And we're starting to even see hypertension in children. So this has ramifications far beyond obesity itself."
He explains that "We Can!" is a "wonderful program that increases health literacy in children and parents so that children begin to start understanding at an early age how to make healthy choices, how to stay physically active. And that's reinforced by their parents."
The program uses a round so-called Disc Go-Guide, with healthy "Go" foods shown in green, and less healthy ones, referred to as "Whoa" foods, in red.
Among desserts, for instance, "whoa" foods include ice cream, commercial cakes and pies. Among the "go" items are popsicles, gelatin deserts, and puddings.
Carmon says a study shows kids are making the distinctions: "It takes a little time because you have to build in that knowledge base to them. But, once they understand that they can eat something that tastes good, that's healthy for them, you start to see them gravitate in that direction.
"In fact, I've seen children who will start advising their parents on what to purchase at the store. They'll help them read food labels!"
"It's really amazing that, once the kids start to understand it, as we increase their health literacy, they start to take control of their own lives."
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