USDA/ARS Children's Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine

• AAP Breastfeeding Policy Statement 
• Breastfeeding Support Consultants Center for Lactation Education
  -- Geared toward lactation consultants, but also contains information and web links of interest to parents.
• FDA Statement on Breastfeeding 
• International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) 
  -- Geared toward lactation consultants, includes articles from the Journal of Human Lactation and organization position papers.
• LaLeche League
   - Provides information, education, and support for parents.
• Texas Department of Health Breastfeeding Promotion 
• USDA Pregnancy and Breastfeeding web links

Calcium

• AAP Policy Statement: Calcium Requirements of Infants, Children, and Adolescents
   - CNRC mineral researcher, Steven Abrams, M.D., served as an advisor to this AAP statement.
• Milk Matters- The National Institute of Child Health and Human Development 
• Meeting Calcium Needs for Optimal Bone Health 
  - By calcium researcher, Connie Weaver, M.D.
• Dairy Council of California 

Children's Nutrition/Feeding Children

• ADA Position Paper - Nutrition standards for child care programs.
  --  Co-authored by CNRC researcher, Theresa Nicklas, Ph.D.
• AAP Policy Statement on The Use of Fruit Juice in the Diets of Young Children
•  American Dietetic Association Position Paper on Dietary Guidance for Healthy Children Ages 2 to 11 years  
  - Co-authored by CNRC researcher, Theresa Nicklas, Ph.D.
• Child/Adolescent Nutrition, Health & Physical Activity (IFIC) 
• Kidnetics.com
• Nutrition Center (Mayo Clinic) 
• 5-a-Day 
  - From the National Cancer Institute and Produce for Better Health Foundation.
• Gerber
   - Commercial site with some useful tips on feeding young children.
• Kid Source Online
  - Health: Nutrition Articles Index - Reviews of on-line children's nutrition articles.
• KidsHealth.org 
• Starting Solids (IFIC) 
  - From the International Food Information Council (IFIC).
• Tiny Tummies Online
   - Newsletter for parents by Sanna James, MS, RD.
• USDA Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children 
• Nutrition for Kids
   - By Connie Evers, MS, RD. Includes back issues of Feeding Kids newsletter.

Eating Disorders

• Extreme Eating (IFIC) - From the International Food Information Council (IFIC).
• Anorexia Nervosa and Related Eating Disorders, Inc. (ANRED) 
  - A not-for-profit site providing information on recovery and prevention of eating disorders.
• Eating Disorder Referral and Information Center
• Eating Disorders Awareness and Prevention Organization - A Not-for-profit organization focused on increasing awareness of eating disorders and their prevention.

Malnutrition, Food Insecurity and Poverty

• The State of Food Insecurity in the World  2003 -- FAO
• The scourge of "hidden hunger": global dimensions of micronutrient deficiencies
• Food Research Action Center (FRAC)
   - Hunger related issues in the U.S.
• Position Paper of the American Dietetic Association on World Hunger
• The World Health Organization (WHO)  -Nutrition

Childhood Obesity

Obesity is a major public health concern in the United States. Between 1980 and 2002, the proportion of children and adolescents ages 6 through 19 who were overweight more than tripled. Obesity now affects over 15 percent of children and adolescents and more than 10 percent of children ages 2 through 5 are overweight. Children and adolescents who are overweight are at increased risk for heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and social discrimination that can lead to poor self-esteem and depression.

• Help Your Child with Successful Weight Management
  -- from the CNRC and Baylor College of Medicine
• Helping Your Overweight Child - From the National Institutes of Health.
• Reports and Studies: Obesity in Children (National Agriculture Library) 
• Childhood Obesity: Causes and Prevention - Symposium Proceedings USDA/CNPP October 1998 (pdf) 
• Prevalence and Trends in Overweight Among US Children and Adolescents, 1999-2000 - PDF format From: Article from the Journal of the American Medical Association
• Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999 -- From the Center of Health Statistics
• Knowledge Path: Obesity in Children and Adolescents
  --Extensive list of web links and electronic resources from the National Center for Education in Maternal and Child Health and Georgetown University
• Weight Control and Obesity Resource List for Consumers and Childhood Obesity: A Food and Nutrition Resource List for Educators and Researchers
  -- Extensive list of web links and electronic resources from the Food and Nutrition Information Center of the National Agricultural Library
• You Are What You Eat -- This web site written for girls from The National Women's Health Information Center,deals candidly with maintaining a healthy weight and making the best food choices for you. Useful sections include: "What Counts as a Serving", "Concerned about Your Weight", and "Making Choices."

American Academy of Pediatrics 

• Prevention of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity (Policy Statement)
• Soft Drinks in Schools

American Dietetic Association:

• Healthy Weight Initiative:
  Fact sheet for clinicians outlining pediatric discussion points on Healthy Weight for Kids.
• Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Study (PowerPoint Presentation)
• Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Study--Survey Results
• Dietary guidance for healthy children aged 2 to 11 years
• Find a Nutrition Professional -- national database for locating a registered dietitian by zip code

National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)  
- Provides statistics from the US government's Centers for Disease Control (CDC), including NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• CDC Update: Prevalence of Overweight Among Children, Adolescents, and Adults -- United States, 1988-1994 
• CDC: America's Children 2003: Indicators of Children's Well-Being -- Overweight Statistics
• Powerpoint presentation -- Adult obesity prevalence 1985 - 2002
• Prevalence of Overweight Among Children and Adolescents: United States, 1999-2000
• State Programs -- statistics on obesity from all 50 states plus information on state-level program
• Body Mass Index (BMI) -- Information regarding Body Mass Index and how to determine BMI for adolescents and children.
  -- BMI-for-age percentile growth chart for Boys 2 to 20 years (pdf file)
  -- BMI-for-age percentile growth chart for Girls 2 to 20 years (pdf file)
• Obesity and Genetics: A Public Health Perspective
• Preventing and Decreasing Overweight and Obesity
  -- "VERB: It's What You Do"   A multi-media campaign to promote a healthy lifestyle and motivate kids to get more active.
  -- CDC Division of  Nutrition & Physical Activity -- Statistics and Resources

• Helping Your Overweight Child
• Helping Your Child: Tips for Parents
• Statistics Related to Overweight and Obesity
• Just Enough for You -- About Food Portions

American Obesity Association

•  Childhood Obesity: Prevalence, Causes, Prevention and Treatment   
• Obesity in Youth -- Fact Sheet

• Pedatric Overweight: A Review of the Literature (2001)
• CREES/USDA Project on Reversing Childhood Obesity Trends
• Fact Sheets on Children and Weight
• Prevention of Childhood Overweight -- What Should Be Done? - Position paper

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: "The Shape We're In"   Newpaper series

• School Days: The Starting Line
• Moving Meals Out of the Fast Lane

Center for Health and Health Care In Schools

• Childhood Obesity: What the Research Tells Us
• Keeping Kids Healthy: Obesity, Nutrition & Physical Exercise

Institutes of Medicine

• Workshop: The Prevention of Childhood Obesity: Understanding the Influences of -- Marketing, Media, and Family Dynamics -- Audio and slide presentations

• Obesity in Children and Teens
• Children and Watching TV

Additional Information, Related Articles and Web Sites on Childhood Obesity

Moving to Prevent Childhood Obesity Childhood "Globesity" -- From the International Food Information Council. Discusses the growing trends of childhood overweight and obesity around the world.

The contribution of expanding portion sizes to the US obesity epidemic --
Lisa R. Young and Marion Nestle. American Journal of Public Health, 92(2):246-250.2002. This study examines what role "super sized" portions play in the current obesity epidemic.

Halting the obesity epidemic -- Marion Nestle et al. Public Health Reports, 115(1): 12-24. 2000.This article looks at obesity from a public health perspective and talks about ways we, as a society, can help reduce the growth of obesity.

Bright Futures -- Obesity - Georgetown University. Provides data profiles about childhood obesity including health and quality of life issues.

Consumption of food group servings: people's perceptions vs. reality -- Nutrition Insights, no. 20: October 2000. Informative article from the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion discussing how people's perceptions of their food group consumption are very different from their actual food intakes.

Is Dieting OK for Kids -- From the Nemours Foundation -- This information is written especially for children and young adults. The information addresses what a restrictive diet is, safe methods of weight loss, and suggests lifestyle changes for a healthy weight.

Coordinating efforts on childhood obesity.
This brief from the National Institute for Health Care Management Foundation summarizes a forum held in October 2001 to address childhood obesity and the improvement of nutrition and physical activity.

The Surgeon General's Call To Action To Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity

Links to Fast Food Facts

Physical Activity and Sports Nutrition

• Kidnetic
  --- an exciting, fun and informative food & nutrition site for kids and parents!
• American Heart Association Scientific Paper: Exercise (Physical Activity) and Children
• Girl Power! Sports and Fitness  - Includes information on many sports and games.
• Guidelines for Promoting Lifelong Physical Activity Among Young People 
  - From the Center for Disease Control.
• Promoting Physical Activity and Exercise among Children
   - From Kidsource.com
• Shape Up America! Health & Fitness 
  - Sponsored by former US Surgeon General C. Everett Koop, in partnership with industry and nonprofit organizations. 
• Winning Nutrition for Athletes
  -- From the President's Council on Physical Finess and Sports.
• Sports Nutrition Q&A
  -- From the President's Council on Physical Finess and Sports.
• BAM! Body & Mind
  --Kid-friendly topics and an interactive aid for teachers from the CDC.

Teaching Nutrition to Kids

• Fantastic Food Challenge from Michigan State University -- a compact disc (CD-ROM) with a set of educational, digital games.  The games are designed to motivate young adults to learn about nutrition, food safety, food preparation and comparing food prices. 
• The Mysterious Marching Vegetables -- From the Center for Educational Outreach at Baylor College of Medicine -- This Food Unit is part of the My Health My World educational program developed for use in schools.  Materials reviewed by CNRC faculty.
• Team Nutrition (USDA) 
• Science in Your Shopping Cart -- From the USDA's Agricultural Research Service
• Science-4-Kids - This fun USDA/Agricultural Research Service site could help hook kids on food, nutrition and science.
• Dole 5 A Day - Commercial site with nutrition information and games, songs, and downloadable lesson plans for educators are all on this useful site.
• Nutrition Education Materials and Audiovisuals for Grades Preschool Through 6  - Food and nutrition materials, audiovisuals and resources for teachers- preschool through 6^th grade.

Vegetarianism

• American Dietetic Association Position Paper on Vegetarian Diets 
• Vegetarian Nutrition Practice Group of the American Dietetic Association
• The Vegetarian Resource Group (VRG) - News, recipes, nutrition information, links, and ideas for those interested in eating a vegetarian diet.