It may be a no-brainer that most kids’ cereals have more sugar than adults’, but wow – 85 percent more?! That’s what a new study from Yale University finds. It also shows kids’ cereals have 65 percent less fiber and 60 percent more sodium than those made for adults. Last year, Consumer Reports found some popular children’s cereals have as much sugar as a glazed donut.

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Earlier this month, a new study showed fewer schools are selling snacks and drinks like candy and soda. Now, a panel recommends the government make healthy changes to school meals, even though it will increase costs. The Institute of Medicine (IOM) says as obesity continues to rise, breakfast and lunch at schools should be lower in calories, and have more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to help kids adapt better eating habits. The IOM says the changes could increase the cost of breakfast by as much as 25 percent and lunch by 9 percent.

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With more emphasis on stopping childhood obesity, some day cares are making changes in their menus. This article shows how a day care center in Delaware is serving grilled chicken instead of hot dogs, strawberries instead of cookies, and water and low-fat milk instead of fruit juice. The goal is to teach kids early that being active and eating healthy can be the norm and that junk food should be a rare treat.

Do you think changes like these will help reduce childhood obesity?

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Just how much do city kids eat at corner stores after school? A new study looked at the snacking habits at K-8 Philadelphia schools where half of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Results show children usually buy chips, candy and sweetened drinks, spend an average of $1 each time, and eat 350 calories worth of snacks at each visit. Researchers say 42-percent of the kids went to the corner stores twice a day which adds up to eating more than 3,500 calories – the number of extra calories it takes to gain a pound.

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Pleas to get junk food out of schools may be paying off. New research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention finds fewer schools are selling snacks and drinks like candy and soda. The report shows high schools and middle schools that sold sugary or salty snacks dropped on average from 54 percent to 36 percent from 2006 to 2008. Those that sold soda and artificial fruit drinks decreased from 62 percent to 37 percent.

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Pregnant women may want to get moving. New research finds regular exercise during pregnancy can lower a first time mom’s chances of having an overweight baby. The report shows working out at least three times a week cuts the odds of delivering a newborn that weighs too much (more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces), by about one-fourth.

Other pregnancy studies have linked a mom’s weight to an increased risk of birth defects.

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In June, it was all about athletic seals helping to get kids moving. Now, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services hopes characters from the classic “Where the Wild Things Are” can help fight childhood overweight and obesity. You’ll soon see and hear new ads with characters and scenes from the movie, which comes out next month. The campaign promotes the benefits of exercise and encourages children to move and play every day.

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The fight against childhood obesity seems to be gaining momentum lately. Last month, HHS Secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, talked about making it a priority to reverse the trend at The Weight of the Nation conference. This week, a new report from the Institute of Medicine and National Research Council recommends steps local governments can take to cut the rates of childhood obesity. Putting a tax on soft drinks and junk food is high on the list.Taxing high sugar drinks has come up before. Do you think it’s a good solution? Would it keep you from buying soft drinks and junk food?

The reports says its suggestions are meant to make it easier for families to make healthier choices. Some of its other recommendations to fight childhood obesity include:

• Use zoning restrictions on fast-food restaurants near schools and playgrounds

• Require publicly run after-school programs to limit video game and TV time

• Build sidewalks that connect to schools, parks, and other destinations

How bad is childhood obesity? Check out the latest stats:

You can see more from the report here.

[Photo Credit: stock.xchng]

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Just a couple of weeks after we get some encouraging news about obesity rates in preschool kids, a new report shows the rate of severe obesity among children and teenagers has more than tripled over the past three decades. The study finds as of 2004, nearly four percent of 2- to 19-year-olds in the U.S. were severely obese. That’s up more than three-fold from 1976, and more than 70 percent from 1994.

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Hi there! I am on vacation in the beautiful Pacific Northwest this week, but I wanted to leave you with some Food for Thought:

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