Childhood Health

Children's Food Choices

One in three children born after 2000 will be diabetic if their lifestyle choices, including diet and exercise, do not change. Overweight and obese children tend to carry the weight and resultant health problems into adulthood. The Extension family and consumer sciences agent in Washington County teamed up with the Regional Medical Center Wellness Director to plan and conduct a month-long Survival Kids Camp for 30 youth, who participated in a four-hour daily program. The program consisted of physical activities, games, challenges and nutrition classes. Ninety percent of the participants showed they gained nutrition knowledge through pre/post test results. Along with the kids camp, the FACS agent also conducted evening classes for the parents of the camp participants. The parents reported they would change the way they planned, purchased and prepared food for their family. The agent worked with key members of the Washington County Health Consortium to write a Rural Health Grant for $250,000 that will fund a Taekwondo/Nutrition program for Washington County youth. Consortium members chose a multidisciplinary response, Taekwondo, to help children lose weight and become more physically fit. All program participants will receive regular nutrition education provided by the Washington County Extension Office. (2006)

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