According to pediatrician Molly Martin from Rush University Medical Center, the rate of childhood obesity in Chicago is 22% among children entering kindergarten, which is a little over twice the national average . She says, “There are neighborhoods in Chicago where almost half of the children are considered obese.” Dr. Martin suggests genetics, low activity levels, food access and lack of education all contribute to childhood obesity in an urban setting. Dr. Martin suggests several ways parents can help beat the obesity epidemic at home by understanding proportion size, cooking from scratch in the kitchen together, sitting down at the dinner table together, getting physical activity everyday for at least a half hour and to allow the occasional sweet treat.
Click here for more information on what to do about childhood obesity in Chicago.
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Click here for information on CLOCC, Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children
Chicago's kids are more overweight than ever, and the crisis is threatening their health.
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