Join the Anne Beers DCSCORES Soccer team and: Get up on your Feet, move and Beat obesity Get physical and be healthy The Anne Beer Fitness Challenge We think you should Know how to beat obesity! Get fit NOW! Fitness week May 24-28, 2010 Fitness Poster Contest May 28, 2010 Make the pledge to Get fit with DCSORES

Get up on your Feet, move and Beat obesity Get physical and be healthy By Mayo Clinic staff Childhood obesity is a serious medical condition that affects children and adolescents. It occurs when a child is well above the normal weight for his or her age and height. Childhood obesity is particularly troubling because the extra pounds often start children on the path to health problems that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Childhood obesity can also lead to poor self- esteem and depression. One of the best strategies to reduce childhood obesity is to improve the diet and exercise habits of your entire family. Treating and preventing childhood obesity helps protect the health of your child now and in the future. Obesity used to be an adult disease, but kids are rapidly catching up. According to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, obesity in children ages 6 to children who are more than 20 percent above average weight -- rose from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in In other words, the prevalence of obesity among American children has almost tripled since the 1980s, closely mirroring the ongoing epidemic in adults. Weight is a touchy issue at any age. Many parents are hesitant to bring it up, even as their children grow increasingly unhappy and unhealthy. But the benefits of slimming down far outweigh the discomfort of talking about it, Sothern says. Kids want to play, they want to run, and they want to stay healthy. And one of the first things they need is a push in the right direction -- away from the TV and out the door. Being fit is a way of saying a person eats well, gets a lot of physical activity (exercise), and has a healthy weight. If you're fit, your body works well, feels good, and can do all the things you want to do, like run around with your friends.eats wellexerciseweight Be Active One job you have as a kid — and it's a fun one — is that you get to figure out which activities you like best. Not everyone loves baseball or soccer. Maybe your passion is karate, or kickball, or dancing. Ask your parents to help you do your favorite activities regularly. Find ways to be active every day. You might even write down a list of fun stuff to do, so you can refer to it when your mom or dad says it's time to stop watching TV or playing computer games!be active Speaking of parents, they can be a big help if you want to be a fit kid. For instance, they can stock the house with healthy foods and plan physical activities for the family. Tell your parents about these five steps you want to take and maybe you can teach them a thing or two. If you're a fit kid, why shouldn't you have a fit mom and a fit dad?