HEALTHY Living for Children

Access the guide and get the information you need

Dangers of Childhood Obesity

An Escalating Problem

One in every three children and adolescents in the United States is now either overweight or obese, with significant increases seen since the 1970s. The COVID-19 pandemic, which led to schedule interruptions, school closures, and less opportunity for physical activity, only accelerated the increase in pediatric obesity rates, according to a recent CDC study.

The study, based on medical record data from more than 432,000 kids, showed that the child and teen obesity rate increased from 19 percent to 22 percent from 2019 to 2020. Further, those who were a healthy weight gained 5.4 pounds a year (up from 3.4 pounds), and weight gain in moderately obese children almost doubled, increasing from 6.5 to 12 pounds.

Obesity in children can increase the risk of conditions like:

High blood pressure and cholesterol
Type 2 diabetes, impaired glucose intolerance, and insulin resistance
Joint pain
Asthma and sleep apnea

Childhood obesity has also been linked to mental health issues like depression and anxiety, and lower self-esteem levels.

It’s now more important than ever to learn about the risks posed by pediatric obesity. If your child is struggling with excess weight, there are resources available to help them achieve a healthy lifestyle.

Giving Families the Keys to Success

For more than 25 years, Hasbro Children’s Hospital has been bringing families the resources they need to support their children on the path to a healthy lifestyle. Our HEALTH (Healthy Eating Active Living Through Hasbro Children’s) clinic within the Primary Care Division of Hasbro Children’s Hospital seeks to improve the significant problem of childhood obesity and to prevent the comorbidities that ensue in later adolescence and young adulthood.

Our services are designed to show kids that healthy eating and active living are well within their reach.

How the HEALTH Clinic Can Help

Your family can:

Learn the basics of eating healthy, including which vegetables, fruits, proteins, and grains to target in your diet
Build a smart shopping list by taking advantages of seasonal foods and sales
Be a more active family with tips on getting more physical activity into your day

Our Guide to HEALTH booklet details the HEALTH clinic core guidelines and includes the latest on how to keep children healthy and happy.

Our daily guideline is the 5-2-1-0 system.

5 servings of fruits and vegetables
2 hours (or less) of screen time
1 hour (or more) of physical activity
0 sugar-sweetened beverages — give your child water to drink

Fill out the form to download A Guide to Health or call 1-401-444-4651 for more information about enrolling your child.