Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach is teaming up with pediatric residents from the University of California, Irvine to host the annual Super Kids Saturday 5K & Fun Run to raise awareness of childhood obesity.
Childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than one third of children and adolescents in the U.S. were overweight or obese in 2012. Childhood obesity has immediate health effects, such as high cholesterol and prediabetes. Long-term health effects, such as increased risk for heart disease and several types of cancer, also are linked to childhood obesity.
“Addressing childhood obesity in events like Super Kids is one way to make big changes in the community since obesity is something that is difficult to treat in short clinic visits,” says Hillary Zieve, M.D., pediatric resident, University of California, Irvine. “Super Kids is a term of empowerment for participants. All kids are super in their own way and with the right tools, they can overcome any obstacle.”
In addition to the 5K and Fun Run, the Super Kids Saturday event will feature a free Health Expo at the finish line. The expo is created just for kids and their families, with interactive displays showing ways to eat smart and tips to make staying fit fun. There will be games for kids of all ages and giveaways promoting a healthy lifestyle.
“The best thing about this event is the emphasis on community – pediatricians even run alongside their patients’ families during the 5K,” says Zieve. “Super Kids Saturday is a way to bring medicine, health and exercise to the community in a fun and exciting way.”
The run takes place on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Granada Beach. Registration for the event starts at 7:30 a.m. and the 5K Run starts at 9 a.m. Registration fee for the 1K Fun Run is free; the 5K Run is $25 until Jan. 26. Funds raised through the registration fees will help support childhood obesity prevention, education, research and treatment programs at Miller Children’s.
To register for this year’s run, please visit: MillerChildrens.org/5k.