Special issue on childhood overweight and obesity and new special magnet feature.

摘要

As we all know, childhood overweight and obesity have become a major public health concern as recent data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey reveal that 17% of children in the United States are obese (Ogden, Carroll, Curtin, Lamb, & Flegal, 2010; Ogden & Flegal, 2010). Nationwide, concerted efforts to reduce the number of children who are overweight and obese currently exist; however, evidence-based approaches are needed to effectively address this national dilemma. In response to this concern, we have published a special issue of eight articles on childhood overweight and obesity.The first article, authored by Bevan and Reilly, entitled, "Mothers' Efforts to Promote Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity for Their Preschool Children," examined the barriers encountered by mothers and the strategies that they used with their children. This study, using an action research approach, investigated the challenges that mothers face in the provision of good nutrition and physical activity for their preschool children and the actions that mothers take to provide these opportunities for them.