The state of Michigan and its nutritional partners want to emphasize a longer duration of breastfeeding, delayed introduction of solid foods, reduction in the use of fruit juices, elimination of saturated fats by using skim milk and reliance on nutrient-dense foods like whole grains.
Those are the details behind a brief message Gov. The governor wants to attack childhood obesity in Michigan in The public-private health and nutrition initiative concerning the feeding of infants and toddlers includes state agencies, the Fremont-based Gerber Products Co. The Pure Michigan FIT program will begin this year by bringing together the parties which can get the proper health and nutrition messages to those in the state who influence what infants and toddlers are eating, according to Jennifer Holton, spokeswoman for the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development.
Childhood obesity is an epidemic in the state, according to the Healthy Kids, Healthy Michigan coalition. Some For the older youth, In all of those statistical studies, Michigan obesity rates are below national averages.
Positive changes found:. Continuing concerns. Young people's poor eating habits, which begin at birth, have contributed to the disturbing trend of Type II diabetes found in youth, according to Kay Beebe, a nurse practitioner at the Mercy Heart Center in Muskegon. Type II diabetes is brought on by lifestyle and weight issues, she said.
From toddlers to teenagers, too many kids are drinking too many sugar-rich drinks such as soda pop, energy drinks, sweet teas and even juices, she said. Many of these products are made from high-fructose corn syrup, which is a dense sweetener that packs more calories into every ounce. And then they become hungry all over again. The plan is to begin with the food retailers, who will be encouraged to provide nutritional education events and marketing displays in their stores.
