Are Your Kids Eating Healthy During The Holidays? A New Study Suggests They Are

Child obesity rates continue to climb in the United States, with the CDC reporting that the rate of obesity among children aged six to 11 increased from 7% in 1980 to almost 18% in 2012. The rate of teens aged 12 to 19 who were obese has also increased from 5% to almost 21%.

As childhood obesity continues to be a problem, parents should be happy to know that as the holidays (and the increased rate for overeating) approaches, a new study from the National Mango Board reveals that 41% of children ask their parents for fresh fruit over other snacks. FOX News reports that with a lot of working families nowadays, parents have moved to serving their kids fresh fruit and vegetables rather than candy and other processed foodstuff.

Furthermore, the study shows that 53% of parents serve their children fresh fruit daily, and 78% of these parents report that according to their kids, they like the taste of fresh fruit. Additionally, 64% of parents claim that nutritional value is the most important consideration for them when selecting snacks for their kids. Parents also said that 62% of kids are willing to try new foods, which is an encouraging number for moms who are still struggling to introduce healthier alternatives for their kids.

"It is imperative to both our nation’s health and the economy that we reduce childhood obesity," Dr. Kevin Hall of the National Institutes of Health told News Medical in 2013. "Obese children tend to become obese adults and the duration of obesity likely has an impact on the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and possibly some forms of cancer."

"The current levels of childhood obesity are much too high and appear to be stabilizing at these high levels in certain groups, while continuing to increase in others," Dr. Hall commented.

However, Dr. Risa Lavizzo-Mourey of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation told The Huffington Post that "We're seeing pockets of progress toward reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. For progress to reach every corner of our country, we must redouble our efforts: parents, schools, nonprofit organizations, government at all levels, and the private sector."

The Huffington Post also reports that over 1,700 U.S. cities have promoted exercise to help about 3 million children become more active. First Lady Michelle Obama, who has championed campaigns for better health for children across the country, said that "In places like Philadelphia, New York City and Mississippi - places where folks from every sector are working together - we've seen childhood obesity rates begin to come down."

It seems that the fight to address childhood obesity is finally gaining momentum, and hopefully will last in the coming years.