Healthy Habits Lead to Healthy Weight

7654321 Method Designed to Keep Kids Active and Healthy

As the childhood obesity epidemic continues to grow, experts at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital have developed a simple message to help parents provide a healthy, active lifestyle for their children. The evidence based 7654321 method is a quick and easy way to remember components of a healthy lifestyle.

7”””Breakfasts every week
6”””Home-cooked meals per week
5”””Servings of fruits and vegetables each day
4”””Ounces of 100 percent juice per day or less
3”””Servings of low fat-dairy each day
2”””Hours or less of screen time each day
1”””Hour or more of physical activity each day

“Michigan is among the most obese states in the country,” said Tom Peterson, MD, medical director, quality, Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. “Between 1980 and 2004, the incidence of overweight children ages six to 11 increased from more than 6 percent to nearly 19 percent. The rate for overweight children ages two to five has increased from 5 percent to nearly 14 percent. We need to work together to stop this trend.”

Watch Dr. Peterson talk about the 7654321 method or download a copy of the poster.

Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, a member of Spectrum Health, is a Grand Rapids-based hospital serving children throughout Michigan. A teaching hospital, it includes more than 150 pediatric specialty physicians with specialized training in providing medical and surgical care to children in more than 40 pediatric specialties. Visit devoschildrens.org to learn more or devoschildrens.org/2011 to learn about the new hospital opening in 2011.