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Childhood Obesity

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Childhood Obesity

The image of a happy, healthy child is one of the most satisfying sights in the world. They run, jump and swim with smiles and giggles punctuating every move. Sadly, this picture is not a reality for many children as they are faced with weight problems and the negative impact of childhood obesity.

The number of overweight children and teens has increased exponentially in the past few decades. Current estimates indicate 33.6 percent of children in the United States are overweight or at risk of being overweight. This number is even higher in the High Desert where 40 percent of adolescents are overweight or at risk of being overweight, according to data from the St. Joseph
Health System.

Setting a Good Example
St. Mary Medical Center's mission to build healthy communities makes this health concern of utmost importance to its staff. Being overweight at an early age has been associated with serious medical problems including hypertension, type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and colorectal cancer. It also means a rise in adult obesity, as approximately 80 percent of overweight kids become obese adults.

St. Mary is busy working with community organizations to develop education about proper diet and nutrition for families as well as create avenues for safe and fun physical activities for children.

In Adelanto, St. Mary helped the Boys and Girls Club to receive $15,000 from the St. Joseph Health System Foundation to build a workout facility and gym at its clubhouse. The St. Joseph Health System Foundation also gave $70,000 to the Adelanto School District to repair an old pool and open community swim programs. The school district also plans to create swim programs as part of its after-school activities to give students more outlets for exercise.

In Hesperia, St. Mary staff serves on the advisory board of the new YMCA and is working to raise funds for its building. The YMCA will provide a variety of recreation programs and sports for High Desert youth and adults.

In Apple Valley, St. Mary staff advises and supports local schools as they establish health and wellness programs for students and parents.

Support for Parents
St. Mary is also focusing on providing the best nutrition to the youngest and most vulnerable members of society – infants. St. Mary is quickly becoming a Baby-Friendly hospital. The Baby-Friendly USA hospital initiative is a partnership of UNICEF and the World Health Organization (WHO) to emphasize the importance of breastfeeding.

Research has shown that breastfeeding reduces the risk of obesity in children as well as other health problems including SIDS, cancers and diabetes. Support for new mothers is an important aspect of the Baby-Friendly initiative. At St. Mary, this includes a complimentary follow-up visit for all new mothers and babies following discharge.

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