Letter of the Week: Promote healthy nutrition and activity for children

As the weather turns warmer, we reminisce about our childhood and the outdoor activities we used to partake in. Unfortunately, some of today’s children choose video games and computers for entertainment.

In Missouri, nearly 30 percent of children are overweight or obese. It is our role as pediatricians, parents, teachers and community members to promote healthy nutrition and activity for all children.

Did you know that a can of regular soda contains 10 teaspoons of sugar and that drinking soda can add 16 pounds to your weight in a year? Promoting healthy nutrition includes eliminating these sugary drinks and replacing them with water and milk.

In addition, children who average more than two hours of screen time each day have been shown to have less interest in school activities.

As a pediatrician, I encourage goal-setting to help attain healthy lifestyles. As summer approaches, let’s focus on the following daily goals:

▪ An hour minimum of physical activity.

▪ Two hours maximum of screen time.

▪ Three servings of low-fat dairy/yogurt.

▪ Four servings of water, not sugary drinks.

▪ Five servings of fruits/vegetables.

Angie Schmidt, D.O., of Kansas City is a 2014 doctor of osteopathic medicine graduate of Rocky Vista University and a 2010 Creighton University graduate with a degree in exercise science. She is in her second year of pediatric residency.

This story was originally published April 17, 2016 at 10:00 AM with the headline "Letter of the Week: Promote healthy nutrition and activity for children."