Kids' Fans Build Healthy Families

Kids' Fitness and Nutrition Services is a community collaborative designed to promote smart eating, physical activity and a healthy weight among children. Kids' Fans endorses the preventive health message of 5-2-1-0: For each day, 5 fruits and vegetables, 2 hours or less of screen time, 1 hour or more of physical activity, and 0 to almost no sugar-sweetened beverages. For tips and recommendations that can help you build healthier habits for a lifetime download our brochure. To join Kids' Fans contact Annette Maiberger at Stamford Hospital 203 276-7448 or amaiberger@stamhealth.org.

Kids' Fans is sponsored by Stamford Hospital and builds on the work developed by the Childhood Obesity Task Force; Task Force members pictured here represent Childcare Learning Centers, City of Stamford Health and Social Services, Mayor's Youth Service Bureau, Stamford Public Schools, Women Infant and Children Program, Sodexho, Stamford Youth Foudnation and UConn-Stamford.

Kids' Fans Goldstein Pediatric Clinic Program

At the clinic, operated by Optimus Health Centers under the direction of Dr. Madhu Mathur, overweight children and their families are encouraged to participate in nutrition and lifestyle counseling to encourage gradual changes in diet and lifestyle. Dance and other forms of exercise are included.

Stamford Hospital and Stamford Youth Foundation have teamed up to encourage enjoyable fitness programs and good nutrition. Fun Fit Club for grades 1-5 is offered on Saturday mornings. Each class includes fun fitness, children's yoga, and nutritional workshops.

Stamford Hospital's Food and Nutrition staff started a 6-week after school program to introduce middle school students to nutrition and physical activities that can be easily incorporated into their daily routines.  Thanks to support from the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Foundation, Stamford Hospital Foundation administered and helped plan fitness centers at two Stamford High Schools for students who have not been involved in fitness or athletic programs.

Kids' Fans also works in collaboration with primary care pediatric offices and family medicine and pediatric clinics and is teaming up with the Stamford Public Schools' Joint Task Force for Nutrition and Fitness.

Childhood Obesity in Connecticut: A Health Epidemic

• Over the past quarter century (from 1976-1980 to 2003-2004), the prevalence of obesity among American children nearly tripled for children ages 6-11 (from 6.5% to 18.8%) and tripled for children ages 12-19 (from 5% to 17.4%).
• Nationally, over 50% of all obese six-year olds are projected to become obese adults.
• In 2005, one in four (26%) Connecticut high school students were obese (11%) or overweight (15%).
• In some Connecticut communities, almost 25% of children are obese.
• Connecticut's adult obesity rate rose from 12% in 1990 to 20% in 2005.
• More than half (58%) of Connecticut adults were obese or overweight in 2005.
• Obese children face increased risks of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, stroke, asthma and heart disease.
• Obesity played a major role in the 41% increase in diabetes among U.S. adults from 1997 to 2003.
• More than 3,000 people in Connecticut die each year from obesity and its complications.
• Obesity-related health problems in Connecticut added $665 million in Medicaid and Medicare costs in one year.

* State of Connecticut, General Assembly, Commission on Children