FOR RELEASE: February 26, 2002
CONTACT: Dick Gunn
405/271-5601

WIC Encourages Healthy Weight for Children

March is National Nutrition Month and Oklahoma’s Women, Infants, and Children Program (WIC) is gearing up to promote healthy weight for children. “Get Fit With WIC” is the theme of this year’s campaign.

The nutrition education message, provided locally by registered dietitians and other health care professionals with the WIC program, will focus on:

• reducing sweet drinks;
• using less than 6 ounces of juice a day per American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommendations;
• using low fat milk and milk products for all participants older than 2 years,
• increasing the consumption of water, fruits and vegetables;
• increasing daily physical activity; and
• encouraging breastfeeding as the preferred method of infant feeding. (There is current evidence that breastfeeding is linked with a reduction in childhood obesity.)

National Nutrition Month is the ideal time to emphasize the advantages of nutrition and physical fitness in the promotion of overall good health. Please contact your local county health department for WIC eligibility and enrollment information.

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