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The $4.9 million grant received by the University of Michigan will try to figure out how to eliminate behaviors leading to obesity before a set pattern begins. The funds will be used for research and obesity prevention programs in Head Start. This federally funded program focuses on school readiness for low-income children ages 3 to 6.
This is a huge amount of money to spend on this project. If it, indeed, helps children control their weight, it will be priceless. We know that an obese young person is much more likely to be an obese adult. And people who are overweight are more likely to have more medical problems.
My hope is that the results of this project will be concerned with the health and nutrition of children and not used to develop drugs, supplements, and other products for the benefit of the food industry and pharmaceutical industry. This must be child/family based.
Reducing calorie intake and increasing exercise and activity are the main ways of staying in shape. It’s the “doing” and/or “not doing” part of this equation that causes the problems. Let’s hope the grant will shed some light on this as well.
Many studies have indicated the solution to losing weight and keeping it off is to have a low-fat, whole foods, plant-based diet combined with a reasonable amount of exercise. This lifestyle is consistent with weight loss and long-term health.
What we eat does make a difference.
To you and your family’s health,
Lee Jackson, CFCS
http://HealthyKidsEatingTips.com
