Health Groups Hope 'Hungry Caterpillar' Will Take A Bite Out Of Obesity

CHICAGO — Two health groups are hoping a hungry caterpillar will take a bite out of childhood obesity.

"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle tells about a caterpillar who munches his way through a variety of foods.

The American Academy of Pediatrics and a group affiliated with former President Bill Clinton hope to use the book to help kids make nutritious food choices and lead healthier lives.

The groups announced plans Tuesday to send more than 17,000 pediatricians special copies of the book, along with growth charts and parent handouts on healthy eating.

Dr. Marion Burton, head of the pediatrics academy, says the campaign can teach kids healthy habits and a love of reading.

The author says he hopes his caterpillar will be a happy reminder for kids to grow healthy.

Comments

[HealthyYou]

03:56 PM on 03/09/2011

I love that book! It starts with the parents - most of the time we don't know what is really healthy and what is not. Kids are looking to their environment to make decisions, cartoon characters and parents are very influential. Be a healthy role model for your kids. http://blog.mydiscoverhealth.com/

[Fred Butters]

04:15 PM on 03/08/2011

We had this book when I was a kid... before the childhood obesity epidemic. What we didn't have were highly processed high sugar, fake fat foods with "healthy" labels on them and we had only started this bogus idea that low fat, high carb foods were required for health.

Kids who drink whole milk (full fat) have lower BMI's than kids who drink non or low-fat milk. http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/169756.php

This country's fear of fat has destroyed our health.

[Dustin Rudolph]

12:39 AM on 03/09/2011

I've found Dr. Fuhrman's book called "Diseaseproof Your Child" really helpful in keeping childhood obesity at bay. He supports eating healthy carbs such as lots of fruits and veggies along with beans and a few whole grains to keep kids feeling great and avoiding disease especially in reducing cancer risk later on in life.

[Jason Ungar]

12:52 AM on 03/09/2011

I just bought his other book Eat to live. It's great. I really want to turn my diet around. It's not terrible but not ideal either. I have two small children. (3, 1) So I figure the best way to help them is to help me first so they can see me as a role model. And we have this book here at home, cool book but it won't help.

[Mother77]

04:03 PM on 03/08/2011

Oh, thank goodness,l it's only a hungry caterpillar. I thought it was going to be a tape worm.

[Nicole Dixson]

01:56 AM on 03/10/2011

Now THAT would definitely make a dent in childhood obesity.