Chicago Fighting Childhood Obesity | Your Health Journal

From The Examiner?..

Today, the National League of Cities (NLC) recognized the City of Chicago for its accomplishments in reducing childhood obesity and its outstanding efforts to complete health and wellness goals for Let?s Move! Cities, Towns and Counties (LMCTC).

?Our goal is to ensure that Chicagoans, both children and adults, have the knowledge, tools and the access they need to get and stay healthy,? said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. ?I?ve taken steps to make sure students have healthy options in schools and learn healthy habits that will help them succeed; increased access to fresh food in our neighborhoods; and set standards for vending machines across the city. It?s an honor to be recognized for these efforts.?

The Let?s Move! campaign was started by First Lady Michelle Obama to address childhood obesity and aims ?to solve the epidemic of childhood obesity within a generation.? On May 13, 2010, Assistant Secretary of Health Howard Koh traveled to Chicago to address the role of health-care providers in addressing childhood obesity. The White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity Report to the President details what steps must be taken in order to meet the Let?s Move! goals.

They include:

- Reduction of maternal smoking during pregnancy, as well as increased education on the importance of healthy diet while pregnant and the benefits of breastfeeding

- Reduction of screen time to two hours or less per day

- Accurate, clear and consistent food labeling

- The Food and Beverage Industry should self-regulate to reduce the amount of unhealthy products advertised and sold to children

- Update Federal nutritional standards for school meals and improve the nutritional quality of USDA commodities provided to schools

Building a Healthier Chicago supports the Let?s Move! goals, which clearly align with the BHC mission and efforts. To learn more about the Let?s Move! campaign, go to http://letsmove.gov/. In recognition of the accomplishments here in Chicago, the city was recognized and commended for achievements in the NLC in 4 out of the possible 5 goal areas:

To read the full story?..Click here

Source: http://www.lensaunders.com/wp/?p=7670

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