English B1A CLASS PACK - Bakersfield College

Apart 9childhood obesity” (Miller). Due to the lifestyle changes that have occurred in the past fewdecades, children have reduced physical activity and increased caloric intake (Miller). As aresult, “proposals to modify physical activity and diet are currently the most highly fundedresearch from the NIH” (Miller). The article states that the prevalence in childhood obesity hasalso caused physicians to take an active approach in preventing obesity:In 2003, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a policy statement on prevention ofpediatric overweight and obesity. The document encouraged physicians to become adeptat recognizing children at risk for obesity, encourage, support and protect breastfeeding,be adept at calculation and plotting of BMI at all visits, identify excessive weight gainusing change in BMI between visits, promote healthy eating habits, promote physicalactivity, recommend limitation of television viewing and monitor for co morbiditiesassociated with obesity. (Miller)Researchers continue to study whether prevention techniques during office visits are effective ornot; although, preliminary studies have proven successful (Miller). The country’s current obesityepidemic is threatening children from becoming healthy and successful adults, which hasprompted first lady Michelle Obama to launch a comprehensive initiative.In 2009, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” campaign. At the “Let’sMove” launch on February 9, 2010, First Lady, Michelle Obama stated “The physical andemotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is atstake” due to the increase in childhood obesity (“American’s Move”). The initiative is to provideeducation for families, promote healthy eating, make healthy foods not only affordable butavailable for all children, and “it’s about putting children on the path to a healthy future during29