Alert
Fighting Childhood Overweight

• Body Mass Index is a measurement that compares a person’s weight to their height. For children, BMI is compared to other children of the same age and gender to give a “BMI-for-age” percentile.
• Overweight for children means that a child’s BMI is above the 95th percentile on a growth chart for their age and gender.
• At risk for overweight for children means that a child’s BMI is above the 85th percentile on a growth chart for their age and gender. More on overweight, obesity, and BMI...

What is Columbus Public Health doing to prevent childhood overweight?

• Healthy Children, Healthy Weights provides training and tools to adults who care for children 0-5 years old.  The program promotes healthy weight in all children.  It is offered to childcare centers, preschools, parent groups, and churches.
• Franklin County Heart Health Network works with neighborhoods to make healthy foods and physical activity more available to residents.
• WIC provides assistance to mothers and young children to get proper nutrition and teaches about Breastfeeding, healthy eating and activity.  
• Welcome Home visits mothers and newborns and teaches about how to feed infants.
• Neighborhood Health Services is made up of public health nurses, social workers and outreach workers who work in the community to help Columbus residents improve their health, including working with areas schools to prevent childhood overweight.

What can parents do to promote a healthy weight for their children?

• Water first for thirst. When your child is thirsty, offer them water. 
• Save low-fat milk and juice for meal times.
• Give your child at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.  You can dance with your child, take a walk, or go swimming.
• Reduce TV time.  Aim for no more than 2 hours a day.
• Give your child a wide variety of fruits and vegetables.  Young children like to dip food, so try giving a child sliced apples or bananas with yogurt to dip.
• Be a positive role model for your children.  Be active and eat healthy foods with them.

For more information:

Healthy Weight for Children
Eating Healthy