 Coalition for Active Children
The Mission
The
mission of the Coalition for Active Children is to promote a healthy
future for children and their families in Chesterfield County through
education and awareness about the lifelong benefits of increased physical
activity and good nutrition. COACH also brings awareness to the community
about the long-term health risks associated with being overweight or
obese.
The Extent of the Epidemic
The percentage of overweight children has increased significantly since
1980. Studies conducted by the Chesterfield County Health Department
through health screenings in public schools have found that three out
of 10 children in the county are either overweight or at risk of being
overweight.
 Why are our kids gaining weight? The easy answer is that they are eating
more without increasing their physical activity, or they have become
less active without reducing their caloric intakes. Either scenario will
result in weight gain. Unfortunately, many kids are doing both – eating
more and exercising less – and thereby gaining weight even faster.
There are other reasons for this disturbing trend. Families are tending
to eat more high-fat, high-calorie foods, often influenced by the intensive
marketing of these foods, instead of preparing more nutritious, home-cooked
meals. The consumption of sodas, fruit juices with added sugar and snack
foods also has significantly increased, along with portion sizes.
Changes in land-use patterns have placed homes farther from needed
services and amenities, forcing the use of vehicles, instead of walking
or bicycling, for families to access goods, services or recreational
activities. Parents are spending more time working at sedentary jobs
and more time commuting to and from work. Parental safety concerns also
are keeping kids indoors, instead of playing outside, meaning that kids
are spending more of their recreational time in front of televisions
or computer screens. Fewer kids are walking to school and less time at
school is spent in physical education. All of these factors have resulted
in far less active kids than their parents were during their own childhoods.
These and other issues are leading to an epidemic of obesity and a
physical, mental and emotional health challenge that may become one of
the most important of the day.
Adverse Health Effects
Obesity is much more than an aesthetic matter. Overweight people are
at increased risk for developing diabetes, asthma, cancer and cardiovascular
disease. Overweight children also are at risk for developing depression,
mood swings, symptoms of attention deficit disorder, and increases in
allergies, joint  problems and severe headaches. The Centers for Disease
Control’s National Centers on Chronic Disease Prevention and Health
Promotion recently reported that Type II diabetes, once commonly known
as adult-onset diabetes because it was almost unheard of in children
or youths, is found today in an estimated 8.7 percent of people under
the age of 20.
In the United States, obesity will soon overtake smoking as the major
cause of preventable death, according to The Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention. The medical costs associated with being overweight may
soon exceed $120 billion annually, impacting every family in the form
of higher premiums for health insurance. Also, as the population ages,
more people will experience the long-term effects of the chronic diseases
caused by obesity, and this epidemic will become an enormous public health
problem.
Adults help by setting the example
Children are more likely to develop sound nutrition and physical-activity
habits at a young age when the adults around them set good examples.
Countless studies prove what parents and teachers already know: that
increased physical activity has a positive effect on academic achievement,
increasing kids’ concentration and reducing incidents of disruptive
behavior. Research also indicates that exercise may strengthen particular
areas of the brain and that aerobic conditioning may help to improve
memory.
Families cannot afford, in terms of health or economics, to continue
to eat more and exercise less. As a nation, a higher priority must be
given to health-promotion strategies that will help families find and
sustain healthier ways of living. One way is for families to focus on
making good nutritional choices in their daily meal plans while building
physical activity and exercise into their daily routines.
The benefits of healthy living
Healthy food choices include all types of foods – fruits and
vegetables, low-fat dairy products, whole-grain breads and cereals, lean
meats, fish and chicken. It is ideal for adults and children to start
the day with breakfast, and eat nutritious lunches and dinners, and enjoy
snacks from different food groups.
Children who are physically active have more energy and more readily
develop strength, coordination and flexibility. Health experts recommend
that young people and adults get at least 30 minutes of physical activity
most days of the week. This can be as easy as walking, bicycling, playing
tag or other running games, or participating in sports. The whole family
may participate in enjoyable activities, such as hiking, biking or roller-skating.
For more information about the Coalition for Active
Children, please call (804) 748-1706.
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