September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

On September 7, Saipan Tribune announced that Gov. Ralph DLG Torres proclaimed September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. It is the month dedicated for children with various physical activities in which they can take part in. These activities are not just for fun, but also it would benefit their body with physical fitness which maintains their weight and calories. By the act of moderation and various physical activities, it encourages children and motivates them to take care of their body and reduce the risk of any diseases.

Childhood Obesity is a serious problem in the United States. Its rate has not only been doubled, but has quadrupled in the past 30 years. This increase needs to be stopped. It’s our partial responsibility to lead the children to a healthy life. According to the Let’s Move Marianas Campaign chair Amber Mendiola, non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and heart disease are steadily increasing among the younger generations. Due to the rapid increase of childhood obesity rate, the risk of diseases such as diabetes and heart attack is high enough in the younger generations. “What we’re finding is that a lot of people are developing non-communicable diseases at a very early age. We have individuals as young as 19 years old that are going through dialysis and it started at daycare and the like.” said Mendiola. Mendiola also stated that the goal of the Let’s Move Marianas Campaign is to educate the community and at least get the children active for their own welfare.

Another advantage through this proclamation would be for the children to be engaged in sports. Becky Robles, NCD Bureau administrator, shared another goal of the Let’s Move Marianas Campaign would be for the children to figure out what they like to do in the field of sports. “Different partners come together and offer different physical fitness or exercise stations. This could be somebody learning soccer, going through an obstacle course, just various stations that kids can go through throughout the day. To give them ideas of what physical activities are, as well as just to try it.” Said Robles. I absolutely agree with her statement. As young children, it is important for them to be physically active in various sports. This will not only maintain their fitness, but it will also help them find their passion in sports. Not everyone can be good in sports, but I do believe that everyone has a favorite sport that they would never get tired of. Through this, they would be able to manage their health and passion.

As to conclude the Childhood Obesity Awareness Month is described to be a great idea proclaimed by the Gov. Torres. Like I’ve illustrated above, it comes out with a lot of advantages for the children and also for our nation. As the rate of the childhood obesity goes down, the health risk of obesity goes down as well. It is our responsibility to help and promote these activities around the world. Every child in this world is a different kind of flower, and all together is what makes this world a beautiful garden.  We have to protect the flowers and give the appropriate nutrients and needs for the flowers in order to keep our garden beautiful and happy.

The link below provides the article:

http://www.saipantribune.com/index.php/september-childhood-obesity-awareness-month/