San Jose – Mirroring troubling national trends, slightly more than one in seven children ages 4 and under is overweight in Santa Clara County, according to the 2005 Children’s Report: Key Indicators of Well Being.
The statistics warn of a difficult future for many in the community as overweight children are at higher risk for preventable diseases and are hospitalized more often than children with a healthy weight.
Santa Clara County Public Health Department officials addressed the issue head-on at the Family Health Conference on Feb. 15 at the Wyndham Hotel in San Jose, gathering with school officials, community leaders and health professionals to look for common solutions.
Santa Clara County Health Officer Dr. Martin Fenstersheib joined Santa Clara County Schools Superintendent Colleen Wilcox at the event for discussion the academic performance of children and how it relates to their health.
Conference attendees included teachers, child care workers, community advocates, social workers, counselors, church leaders and others.
The conference began in 1995 and was organized by the Santa Clara County Black Infant Health Advisory Board to help families navigate the county’s healthcare system and address health disparities that exist within communities.
