Wednesday, October 7, 2009

By Eric Goodwin

McClatchy Newspapers 

It's not news that obesity is a major health problem in the United States. According to the latest statistics from the National Center for Health Statistics, more than two-thirds of U.S. adults 20 and over are overweight or obese. Obesity can lead to health problems including heart disease and diabetes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention offers tips for parents to keep children active and healthy on their Web site at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/children/index.html. The site includes a downloadable PDF explaining the basic guidelines of a well-balanced diet, as well as links to an activity guide and a child and teen BMI (body mass index) calculator.

The site also includes a board game parents can download that explains portion control and gets kids conscious about the effects of snacking. Speaking of games, the site also includes links to Flash-based games you can play in your browser. One such game is MyPyramid Blast Off, where players attempt to fuel a rocket ship to Planet Power by loading it up with the right mix of food and physical activity.

Eric Goodwin writes Hotlink for McClatchy-Tribune News Service. You can send e-mail to egoodwinmctinfoservices.com or follow Hotlink on Twitter at mct--hotlink.