Building Healthy Environments for Youth

 

Childhood obesity in the U.S. has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents in the past 30 years.  Reducing childhood obesity ranks among the greatest public health challenges in the U.S. In Maine, 15% of high school and middle school students have obesity.

 

In response to this epidemic, all MaineHealth hospitals implement Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0, a nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program that was developed in Maine. MaineHealth organizations partner with schools, child care and out-of-school programs, health care practices and community organizations to change environments where children and families live, learn, work and play.

In 2018-2019, Let’s Go! reached over 240,000 children in Maine and Carroll County, New Hampshire, by:

• Involving more communities with Let’s Go!
• Changing environments
• Providing and promoting healthy eating and active living strategies and policy recommendations

Over 22,000 partners helped implement Let's Go! strategies at over 1,500 sites.  780 schools, child care programs, and out-of-school programs provided opportunities for physical activity daily - a 72 percent increase from 2015-2019.