Obesity is rampant among Michigan’s children. In fact, one in three kids between the ages of 10 and 17 – nearly enough to fill up Ford Field nearly seven times – are overweight or obese.
Most parents know the problem exists. What they sometimes don’t understand, however, is what to do about it, especially when it’s their child who is at risk.
That’s why #MIKidsCan was created. It is an initiative by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan that is helping kids and their parents understand the importance of eating healthy and being physically active.
One of the keys to a lifetime of good health is starting early, so #MIKidsCan also encourages kids to adopt healthy habits early in life that are more likely to be carried into adulthood.
One part of the campaign includes social media contests for kids and parents to share their favorite ways to get active and eat well. You can read more about the contests in the Living Well section of this edition.
“The #MIKidsCan campaign integrates major events and partnerships with the power of social media to get Michigan talking about kids’ health,” said Andrew Hetzel, vice president of corporate communications at BCBSM. “We have significant dollars invested in programs and powerful partners at the table. But we can’t succeed without people getting involved to spotlight and celebrate how our kids can adopt the building blocks to a healthy life. That’s what MIKidsCan is all about.”
A new study published in the journal Pediatrics showed that three-fourths of overweight children have parents who judge their kid’s weight as “just right.” Even parents of obese children have a hard time seeing the truth Thirty-seven percent of obese boys and 33 percent of obese girls were seen as normal weight by their parents.
As part of its nonprofit mission, BCBSM continues to work to help Michigan families make good choices leading to healthier lives. Since 2005, BCBSM has invested more than $6 million in childhood obesity prevention initiatives, like Building Healthy Communities (BHC), to provide school-based programs to improve the health habits of Michigan kids. This year, 58 schools across the state are receiving the innovative program thanks to a partnership between the Michigan Department of Community Health, BCBSM, the Michigan Fitness Foundation, University of Michigan, United Dairy Industry of Michigan and Wayne State University.
But as a parent, there are plenty of things that can be done with the help of a variety of resources BCBSM offers as part of the #MIKidsCan initiative. From encouraging a love for sports to teaching wholesome eating habits, parents have a huge influence on the health of their children. And tackling a weight issue early on can mean all the difference in whether or not an overweight child grows up to be an overweight adult (with all the health issues that accompany it).
“Sports and physical play are important parts of growing up healthy,” Hetzel said. “The power of our sports partners to create big events to champion healthy kids is an exciting part of #MIKidsCan. We will be rolling out a series of big events – starting this fall – to bring more public attention to the cause and make the campaign fun for people to participate in.”
Since sports and physical activity are such an important part in growing up healthy, BCBSM has partnered with:
• The Detroit Lions
• Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford
• The University of Michigan Athletics Department
• Michigan State University’s Athletics Department
• The Detroit Red Wings
• The Detroit Pistons
• The Detroit Tigers
About Childhood Obesity and Blue Cross’ Role
The reason for the initiative is simple: Childhood obesity is an epidemic, impacting millions of U.S. children annually, including a third of Michigan children. Michigan has the 18th highest childhood obesity rate in the country. Obesity-related chronic health conditions account for nearly $200 billion in annual health expenditures in the United States.
Research from the American Psychological Association and the Obesity Society confirms that once healthy habits are established early in life, they are difficult to change. This makes it critical for kids to start building healthy habits while they are young, like choosing nutritious foods and getting at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
The Centers for Disease Control finds childhood obesity is at the core of many physical complications experienced by adults, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, sleep apnea, asthma and bone and joint problems. Obese children are more likely to suffer from depression, stress, anxiety and poor self-esteem.
Families can get involved by visiting AHealthierMichigan.org/MIKidsCan and following #MIKidsCan on Twitter and Facebook. From contests to sporting events, BCBSM wants to know what Michigan kids can do.
