A nurse intervention program implemented in underserved areas of Australia has proven to substantially reduce infantile body mass index (BMI) numbers. Dubbed the Healthy Beginnings Trial, the program included eight separate nursing visits before childbirth and an additional seven visits until the baby turned 2 years old.
Given specific guidelines, nurses advised mothers on which foods were the healthiest for infants, including proper daily intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as the many benefits of physical activity rather than idle time watching television or playing stagnant games.
"Infant feeding practices, including breastfeeding and the timing of the introduction of solids, as well as children's eating habits and time spent watching TV, are among the most identifiable factors contributing to early onset of childhood obesity," wrote the report's authors.
According to the American Heart Association, about one-third of children in the United states are obese and could develop early signs of type 2 diabetes. If nurses carefully monitor infants' development, however, they could prevent the likelihood of childhood obesity.
Given specific guidelines, nurses advised mothers on which foods were the healthiest for infants, including proper daily intake of fruits and vegetables, as well as the many benefits of physical activity rather than idle time watching television or playing stagnant games.
"Infant feeding practices, including breastfeeding and the timing of the introduction of solids, as well as children's eating habits and time spent watching TV, are among the most identifiable factors contributing to early onset of childhood obesity," wrote the report's authors.
According to the American Heart Association, about one-third of children in the United states are obese and could develop early signs of type 2 diabetes. If nurses carefully monitor infants' development, however, they could prevent the likelihood of childhood obesity.
