DoD Pledges to Combat Childhood Obesity

Department of Defense Agencies and Organizations “Take the Pledge” to Combat Childhood Obesity

FALLS CHURCH, Va. – In the past decade childhood obesity rates have risen to epidemic proportions. The United States Surgeon General is encouraging all Americans to “Take the Pledge” to combat childhood obesity and this includes families of the Uniformed Services.

TRICARE, the Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA), Military OneSource and the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) are partnering with Health and Human Services (HHS) on a Human Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) initiative to raise awareness of the problem among military families and encourage them to take the pledge during National Children’s Health Month in October.

The partnership is aimed at increasing the effectiveness of healthy lifestyle campaign programs within the Department of Defense (DoD). This initiative also highlights Children’s Health Month in October and National Child Health Day, the first Monday in October, which focuses on childhood obesity. This year's theme for National Child Health Day is "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future" which supports the Surgeon General's efforts to encourage children to stay active, have healthy eating habits, and make healthy choices.

More than 12.5 million children and adolescents (17.1 percent of people ages 2 to 19 years) are overweight. The percentage of children with weight problems at DoD Dependents Schools-Europe has doubled in the past four years, according to a survey conducted by Center for Health Promotion and Preventative Medicine-Europe.

A 2005 Health Behaviors Survey revealed that approximately two out of three non-active duty beneficiaries are overweight; one out of three is obese and 18.9% of DoD dependent adolescents are obese. Overweight children and adolescents are more likely to have risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type 2 diabetes.

Parents and caregivers are the primary influencers for children and can be role models for children, promoting healthy lifestyles to prevent obesity. The partnership – which includes materials from TRICARE, DeCA, Military OneSource and AAFES – will use multiple media, including the Pentagon Channel, to create awareness of childhood obesity prevention within DoD and encourage children to eat right and exercise.

During October, anyone can visit www.tricare.mil, www.commissaries.com, www.militaryonesource.com and www.aafes.com as well as the HHS and HRSA Web sites for articles, advice columns, blogs and more about childhood obesity.

“Take the pledge” to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity and secure a healthy future for America’s children at www.surgeongeneral.gov/.

About TRICARE Management Activity and the Military Health System
TRICARE Management Activity, the Defense Department activity that administers the health care plan for the uniformed services, retirees and their families, serves more than 9.2 million eligible beneficiaries worldwide in the Military Health System (MHS). The mission of the MHS is to enhance Department of Defense and national security by providing health support for the full range of military operations. The MHS provides quality medical care through a network of providers, military treatment facilities, medical clinics and dental clinics worldwide.  For more about the MHS go to www.health.mil.