Kids eat right and childhood obesity prevention in Mexico

Kids Eat Right (KER) is a campaign that promotes healthy eating habits and an active lifestyle within the family. One of its objectives is to prevent childhood obesity. This campaign is an initiative of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics Foundation from US. KER campaign is reaching population not only from US but also from other countries around the world through KER International. One of those countries is Mexico, where childhood obesity is a major public health problem. According to the last nutrition and health survey in Mexico, 34 % of school children are either overweight or obese. (ENSANUT 2012). In order to contribute to the prevention and management of this disease, KER´s tools and programs are being adapted and implemented in Mexico. One of the toolkits translated and adapted was Healthy eating. From the Ground Up. This toolkit that includes presentations, handouts and activities was implemented in six public elementary schools in Mexico City reaching 262 students from 4th, 5th and 6th grades. The students learned the health benefits of eating plant foods and established short-term goals to eat a specific plant food more frequently. Results and challenges for this implementation in elementary schools in Mexico will be presented. After the session the attendee will identify KER Campaign and its main components, the results of its implementation in Mexico and how to join this campaign.