CNBNews

Today, about one in three American kids is considered overweight or obese. To help raise awareness during Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, the Life is Why Family Health Challenge™ will help parents and caregivers make small modifications to their lifestyle that will lead to bigger, heart-healthy changes down the road.

The challenge is offered by the American Heart Association as an event on its Facebook page and is broken down into four themed weeks.  The online forum encourages parents and caregivers to utilize free tools and resources provided each week to show the ease of making healthy decisions and habits with your kids.  Families can join the online forum and update each other on their progress while interacting with peers taking the challenge alongside them.

The week-by-week overview of the challenge includes:

• Week 1 –“My Cart is Why”– The American Heart Association recommends eating a variety of fruit and vegetable servings every day. Learn how to increase your fruit and veggie consumption on a budget, and make grocery shopping a fun and easy activity for you and your kids.
• Week 2 – “My Glass is Why” – Sugary drinks can cost you your energy and your health, don’t let others sugarcoat your future and let’s make sugary drinks a thing of the past without feeling thirsty.
• Week 3 – “My Taste is Why” – Most adults eat more than double the amount of sodium recommended by the American Heart Association. Tame your taste buds by reducing the sodium in your foods and on your plate. Be sodium aware…if you dare!
• Week 4 – “My Movement is Why” – The American Heart Association recommends kids get at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous-intensity aerobic activity every day. Make physical activity fun, simple and memorable with your family.  Learn quick activities that easily integrate into your daily life – no matter your schedule.

“The Life is Why Family Health Challenge™ was crafted to be simple, quick and fun for families to do together,” commented COL (Dr.) Charles Garbarino, a board certified pediatrician and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics from Livingston, NJ.  “Childhood obesity is now the No. 1 health concern among parents, but with simple, manageable changes, you can prevent or treat overweight in childhood and reduce risk of heart disease, adult obesity and other health complications.”

By the end of the challenge, families should feel accomplished and better equipped to make heart-healthy decisions in their daily lives.

This September, join the American Heart Association, and families across the country, to make a change in your life and the lives of your loved ones. Visit www.heart.org/healthierkids to learn more about the Life is Why Family Health Challenge™ and access the free activities and templates today. Remember, change starts at home and it starts with you.

About the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association

The American Heart Association and the American Stroke Association are devoted to saving people from heart disease and stroke – the two leading causes of death in the world. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies, and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat these diseases. The American Heart Association is the nation’s oldest and largest voluntary organization dedicated to fighting heart disease and stroke. The American Stroke Association is a division of the American Heart Association.