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Childhood Health

Poor nutrition, inactivity and childhood obesity are everyday problems for many of Georgia's children. Parents, day care workers, food service providers, teachers and others need to know how to guide children into a healthy lifestyle.

The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences tackles these issues through research and study, community outreach through its UGA Cooperative Extension, and partnerships with the College of Family and Consumer Sciences.

Impact Statements

Review these reports on childhood health from CAES faculty in research, teaching and Extension. For more reports, visit the searchable database.

2007 Reports

2006 Reports

Georgia FACES News

Here's just a sample of childhood health issues in the news generated by the college. For the latest news, visit Georgia FACES.

Don't let danger sneak into your child’s lunchbox
July 20, 2006 — You pack your child's lunch for school early in the morning, but she doesn't eat it until lunchtime. Is it still safe then? Foodborne illnesses can be serious, even deadly, for young children especially. But lunch doesn't have to be risky.
Read the news release >>
Orange tide takes 4-H'ers on extraordinary journey
May 18, 2006 — The Sea Monkeys could never have imagined how far those oranges would take them. "I had no idea we would do more than just gather facts for local scientists," said Nathan Potts, one of the Glynn County, Ga., high school 4-H'ers who call themselves the Sea Monkeys. "We became the scientists."
Read the news release >>
School food workers learn how to prevent obesity
July 28, 2005 — Super-size isn't an option in Georgia's school cafeterias. And University of Georgia experts are working to keep it that way. To help reduce childhood obesity numbers, UGA Cooperative Extension nutrition specialists conduct statewide school cafeteria worker trainings each summer.
Read the news release >>
Kraft moves to ease temptation on kids' plate
January 13, 2005 — Thanks to the increased focus on protecting children's health and preventing childhood obesity, commercial jingles like "O-R-E-O" and "Hey, Kool-aid" may be as distant a memory for today's kids as "You've come a long way, baby," is for their parents.
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Scientists making stem-cell based SMA drug test
December 16, 2004 — Researchers at the University of Georgia have been awarded a $425,598 subcontract to develop a human embryonic stem-cell–derived test for screening drugs capable of treating spinal muscular atrophy, the No. 1 genetic killer of children under 2 years old.
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Free food safety advice offered in September
August 26, 2004 — To help celebrate National Food Safety Education Month, the University of Georgia Extension Service and Publix supermarkets are teaming up on three Saturdays in September to help shoppers serve safer food.
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Be sure your toddler eats the right foods
January 14, 2004 — Parents often don't know what to do when their toddler's appetite suddenly decreases and his interest in certain foods changes. After the first year of life, food just isn't the focus anymore. The child is much more interested in the other senses.
Read the news release >>
How does air pollution affect unborn babies?
September 19, 2003 — A pregnant woman walks down the street of a large city. She doesn't know it, but the air she's breathing could be hurting her unborn baby.
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Overweight U.S. children a growing concern
February 27, 2003 — Getting enough to eat isn't a problem for most children in the United States. Eating the right foods and being active enough to stay healthy, though, is a growing concern.
Read the news release >>

CAES Publications

For a list of publications by subject, including childhood health titles, visit the Publications Subject List.