Community Forum on Childhood Obesity

Stop & Shop Supermarket will host a community forum on childhood obesity at 11am on Thursday, March 31st at the Stop & Shop located at 50 Cherry Valley Road in West Hempstead.

The expert panel will be chaired y Nassau County Executive, Edward Mangano. The other panelists will include: Dr Rene Bargman Director Pediatric Endocrinology Nassau University Medical Center. Rob Gewirtz, Health & Physical Education Instructor, West Hempstead High School and a member of the West Hempstead District Wellness committee. Deborah Colfer, Interim Executive Director, Nassau County Cornell Cooperative Extension. Sabrina Candelaria, MPH, RD, CDN, Adjunct Assistant Professor, Department of Health Professions and Kinesiology at Hofstra University and Arlene Putterman, Coordinator Stop & Shop Childhood Obesity Initiative.

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years.

Obese youth are more likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Children and adolescents who are obese are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem.

Obese youth are more likely than youth of normal weight to become overweight or obese adults, and therefore more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, stroke, several types of cancer, and osteoarthritis.

The costs of treating obesity-related diseases are staggering and rising rapidly. Direct and indirect health costs associated with obesity are $98 billion.

Fewer than 25% of adolescents eat enough fruits and vegetables each day.

64% of high school students don't meet currently recommended levels of physical activity.

· 85% of adolescent females do not consume enough calcium. During the last 25 years, consumption of milk, the largest source of calcium, has decreased 36% among adolescent females. Additionally, the average daily soft drink consumption almost doubled among adolescent females, increasing from 6 ounces to 11 ounces, and almost tripled among adolescent males, from 7 ounces to 19 ounces.

What: Stop & Shop Community Forum on Childhood Obesity
When: 11am on Thursday, March 31st
Where: Stop & Shop Supermarket located at 50 Cherry Valley Road in West Hempstead.