Virginia health officials are rolling out their new 95210 program to get that state's kids in shape. They're calling it 95210 and here's their thinking:
- 9 is the number of hours most kids need to sleep
- 5 is the number of servings of fruits and vegetables they should eat every day
- 2 is the maximum number of hours of "screen time" they should get
- 1 is the number of hours of physical activity they should try for
- 0 is the number of sugary drinks kids should consume
Will the new 95210 program really catch on? I'm not sure. It doesn't exactly roll off the tongue, does it? Fortunately for Virginia I didn't get to vote on it. Senior health educator Shirley Miller did, though, and she had this to say about it, "Using 95210 is a great way to communicate simple and consistent ‘good health’ messages to children."
There's no question anymore that recommendations like these--assuming families will actually put them into place--will result in healthier kids. All these things could potentially reduce kids' chances of developing heart disease, stroke and some cancers. And it can certainly stem the rising tide of obesity and type 2 diabetes.
Adults could benefit, too, say these experts. And they also recommend people limit their intake of salt, sugar and cholesterol-creating fats.
Will the new 95210 effort work? I hope so but if you live in Virginia I'd love to hear your opinions on this. What do YOU think of it?
