take the surgeon general's pledge

I pledge to:

• Be a role model by making healthy choices for myself.
• Help children be physically active through everyday play and participation in sports.
• Support children's healthy eating habits.

A healthy future is our gift to our children.

We estimate 1 in 6 U.S. children between 2 and 19 is overweight, a risk factor for serious health consequences including asthma, diabetes and heart disease.

You can help solve this serious – and growing – health problem. Join us on the 80th annual Child Health Day, October 6, 2008, and help children Eat Healthy and Be Active for a Healthy Future!

eat healthy

• Healthy Weight: It’s Not a Diet, It’s a Lifestyle how to assess, achieve and maintain your healthy weight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• My Pyramid Menu Planner to help you make healthy food choices for yourself and your family, calculate your body mass index (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• My Pyramid for Pregnancy and Breastfeeding ( U.S. Department of Agriculture)

be active

• Eat Smart. Play Hard.™ to encourage and teach kids and adults to eat healthy and be physically active everyday (U.S. Department of Agriculture)
• Physical Activity for a Healthy Weight (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
• Helping Your Overweight Child (National Institutes of Health)
• We Can!™ Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition (National Institutes of Health)