An Apple a Day

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“An apple a day keeps the doctor away” and “you are what you eat” may seem like timeless adages to remind us the importance of good nutrition, but it’s no secret that lately, we haven’t been listening. Obesity is an epidemic hitting hard in the United States. And if we can recognize just one more adage … that “our children are our future,” focusing on, battling, and preventing childhood obesity is one promise we should make to ourselves. With The United Health Foundation ranking Nevada as the 4th Most Unhealthy State, we think it’s important to discuss this issue in our community.Here are some statistics reported by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) relating to childhood obesity:

• Obese children are 70% more like to become obese adults.
• Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.
• Obese adolescents are more likely to have pre-diabetes, a condition in which blood glucose levels indicate a high risk for development of diabetes.
• Obese children and adolescents are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Now let’s shift this discussion into a positive one. You might be familiar with Let’s Move!, a campaign initiated by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat childhood obesity within a generation, but did you know there’s one local organization working hard to make an impactful change in Las Vegas children’s health?Jump for Joy Foundation practices Activity Based Hobbies and Interests (ABHI), an initiative promoting physical activity, nutrition, and positive psychology in order to change obesity norms in children. Events like the Foundation’s Camp J.U.M.P. Track & Field, Dunk On Obesity, and Family Fitness Night, provide fitness workshops, exercise activities, and free education to Las Vegas families in order to promote health in fun and engaging environments.Reaching over 3,000 children campers and over 1,000 parents, Jump for Joy Foundation’s success can be found in the power of its supporters. The Foundation works with parents, educators, corporate sponsors, celebrity ambassadors, and neighborhood volunteers. Recognizing that ittakes a village to raise a child, Steinberg Diagnostic tips its hat to Jump for Joy Foundation for involving its community in encouraging fitness, healthiness, and happiness in our next generation.