Newswise — Voices for Healthy Kids released the following statement today on a new report showing 43% decline in obesity among 2 to 5 year olds over a span of eight years.
"The next generation is already setting the new normal for healthy living, showing the world that progress is possible if we continue to devote ourselves to creating healthy, active environments for kids. Today we learned that obesity among 2 to 5 year olds has significantly declined over the past few years following the national movement to help families and children eat healthier and be more physically active. While declines were not seen in older age groups, we are encouraged that youth obesity rates are holding steady. Families, schools, health advocates, and many companies are working to drive this change and support our children as they shift our cultural norms towards healthier living. We urgently need the new normal for healthy eating and active living in every state and community across our nation. That’s why we actively support communities committed to seeing every child with healthy foods and drinks at home and in school, safe streets for biking and walking, and places to play after school. We are working to ensure that the places where children live, learn and play make it easy and enjoyable for them to eat healthy foods and be active."
Voices for Healthy Kids® is a joint initiative of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) and the American Heart Association (AHA). The collaboration is working with communities across the nation to ensure that children have access to healthy food and physical activity where they live, learn and play. For more information, visit www.voicesforhealthykids.org.
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