Florida hospitals battle childhood obesity with education, prevention

Childhood obesity numbers have doubled over the past 30 years, and with one out of every three children falling under the "overweight" category, Florida hospitals are working with children and families on prevention and weight management, the Miami Herald reported. William Muiños, M.D., director of the weight management program at Miami Children's Hospital, sees almost 90 patients a month, offering a full medical and psychological evaluation to new patients, followed by monthly visits to educate parents and children on healthy eating and exercise habits. Meanwhile, at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, researchers are using a $2 million, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health to add an obesity prevention component for minority adolescents within the Miami-Dade public school system. Researchers hope to enroll 280 families in the program, which is slated to launch this summer. During the program, nutritionists and exercise physiologists will work with parents and children to complete the three-month curriculum. Article