September is National Childhood Obesity Month
Prevention is key to turning the tide on childhood obesity epidemic
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
Missouri continues to outpace most of the nation in childhood obesity.
The latest statistics show that 29 percent of Missouri high school students are overweight or obese, compared with 28 percent nationwide. Since 2005, Missouri has moved from ninth to eighth in the country in obesity rates among high school students, a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.
Health officials say the state’s rise in the obesity rankings is a dangerous trend that puts the health and well-being of Missourians at great risk.
Stop the Spread of Salmonella
Risk factors include:
- Eating foods that are undercooked or unrefrigerated
- Family members with recent Salmonella infection
- Owning pet iguanas, turtles, lizards, and snakes
Preventative measures:
- Proper food storage (refrigerate at 41 degrees)
- Wash hands, kitchen work surfaces, and utensils with soap and water immediately after they have been in contact with raw or undercooked eggs, meat, or poultry
- Cook all meats and, egg products, thoroughly
- Do not eat or drink foods containing raw or undercooked eggs
- Do not drink raw unpasteurized milk
- Wash hands with soap and water after handling reptiles, baby chicks or ducklings, or after contact with pet feces
Lightning strikes more than 400 people in the United States each year, causing devastating and permanent disabilities for those who survive. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration urges everyone to heed the warning—when thunder roars, go indoors!
