Children, Youth and Families at Risk
New Mexico Extension's Just Be It! Healthy and Fit Program
- Reduces childhood obesity risk factors by implementing prevention techniques identified by World Health Organization (2003)
- Provides nutrition education to students, teachers, and parents
- Teaches students to make nutritious food choices like fruits and vegetables
- Teaches students to choose appropriate serving sizes of food
- Helps parents and teachers support healthy food choices for children
- Promotes regular physical activity
- Promotes healthy lifestyles for children and families
- Funded by a grant from USDA/NIFA Children, Youth and Families at Risk Program (CYFAR)
Obesity rates for children have increased.
- In 1971 in United States about 5% of children aged 2-19 were obese
- By 2002 nearly 15% of children were considered obese
- In New Mexico, the rate of childhood overweight and obesity for children aged 10-17 is 32.7% according to a 2007 National Survey of Children's Health
Obesity is a significant risk factor for a variety of chronic diseases in adults, including:
- high blood pressure
- high cholesterol
- heart disease and stroke
- gallbladder disease
- certain types of cancer
- 37% increase in diabetes in New Mexico from 1990 to 2000
- Type 2 diabetes, previously considered an adult disease, has increased dramatically in children and teens
Related Publications & Reports
Childhood Overweight - What a Parent Can Do pdf
Parents' Feelings about Overweight Children pdf
Impact Reports for New Mexico Cooperative Extension's Plan of Work for Just Be It! Healthy & Fit
Childhood Obesity Prevention: Review of Research Literature-University of Delaware Cooperative Extension