Benefits of Healthy Eating
Healthy eating contributes to overall healthy growth and development, including healthy bones, skin, and energy levels; and a lowered risk of dental caries, eating disorders, constipation, malnutrition, and iron deficiency anemia.
Obesity Among Youth
The prevalence of overweight among children aged 6-11 years has more than doubled in the past 20 years and among adolescents aged 12-19 has more than tripled.
Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to become overweight or obese adults one study showed that children who became obese by age 8 were more severely obese as adults.
*For more information and a list of cited resources, please visit:
www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/nutrition/index.htm
Physical Activity
Regular physical activity in childhood and adolescence improves strength and endurance, helps build healthy bones and muscles, helps control weight, reduces anxiety and stress, increases self-esteem, and may improve blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Positive experiences with physical activity at a young age help lay the basis for being regularly active throughout life. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends that young people (ages 6–17) participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
Helps build and maintain healthy bones and muscles.
Helps reduce the risk of developing obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Reduces feelings of depression and anxiety and promotes psychological well-being.
*For more information and a list of cited resources, please visit:
www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/physicalactivity
