Class to create healthy kids shows impressive results

Dr. Sean Kenniff, CBS News

Tools

By Beth Boehne

Story Created: Mar 21, 2008 at 1:55 PM EDT

Story Updated: Mar 21, 2008 at 1:55 PM EDT

(CBS) — In the midst of a childhood obesity epidemic two researchers had a novel idea: If you want kids to eat healthy, teach them how. The simple solution has led to some impressive results.

A group of preschoolers took part in a University of Miami experiment designed to hold off childhood obesity.

"We wanted to keep normal weight children a normal weight so it's really a prevention intervention,” explained Dr. Sarah Messiah of the University of Miami.

Dr. Messiah and Dr. Ruby Natale developed the program to teach inner city kids about healthy foods and why they need to eat them.

And a new report shows it's working.

Kids in the program stopped eating chips almost entirely. Cookie consumption dropped by 50 percent, and fresh fruit and vegetable consumption increased by 25 percent.

"They go home and ask parents to buy them more broccoli, which we were told would never happen,” said Dr. Natale.

And almost all of the kids stayed at the same weight, or lost a little bit.

This program worked so well that it's going to be expanded in the upcoming year from 7 centers to 10 centers, and the hope is it will start an educational trend nationwide.

That's good news for pediatricians.

"We need effective community-based programs to approach that and we need to begin very early,” said Pediatrician Dr. Lee Sanders.

And while some old habits die hard, this study proves it's never too early to start the healthy ones.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 55
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
NCIS
9.00
The Mentalist
10.00
Without A Trace
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

How are you enjoying the unseasonably warm weather?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5:30.