September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Welcome to an Important Cause
More than 23 million children and teenagers in the U.S. are obese or overweight, a statistic that health and medical experts consider an epidemic. Childhood obesity puts nearly one third of America’s children at early risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and even stroke – conditions usually associated with adulthood.
It’s not too late for our children. The first-ever National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month in September 2010 drew important public attention to the issues surrounding childhood obesity and made an impact in reducing the prevalence of the epidemic. This year, we’re doing even more to spread the word to communities throughout the U.S., and President Barack Obama has lent his support to this important initiative through his recent proclamation. But we can’t do it without you. We need your help to spread the word to encourage children to be active and eat healthy.
Get Involved in Three Simple Steps
Involve Your Community
Childhood obesity isn’t limited to one state or town. It’s a nationwide concern. Download our online toolkit – complete with sample PSAs, proclamations, and news releases – for quick, easy ideas for bringing National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month to your community.
Spread the Word
We make it easy. Show your support of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month on social media by making COAM your profile picture. Download one of our ready-made images to show your friends and fans that you care about America’s children.
Be Celebrated for Your Work
We appreciate your work. That’s why we created the 2011 PLAY (Promoting Lively, Active Youth) Award to honor an innovative organization that hosts an event held in the U.S. during National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. To apply for the award, simply add your event to our events calendar.
"For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks, and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family, and one community at a time,"
First Lady Michelle Obama