As families start their 2025 health resolutions, many parents are especially focused on resetting habits after the holiday season. New research from Lurie Children’s Hospital found 47% of parents report their child’s diet worsens during holidays, with 89% citing an overwhelming presence of sweets as the key challenge. This seasonal challenge reflects broader year-round concerns:
- 35% of parents acknowledge setting poor health examples themselves, with 86% admitting to poor eating habits and 78% not getting enough exercise.
- More than half (56%) of parents worry about their child’s weight, while 85% believe American culture itself hinders healthiness.
- Children are getting only 6 hours of exercise per week on average, falling well short of CDC recommendations for 60 minutes daily.
For parents seeking to establish healthier family habits this January, Dr. Caren Mangarelli, Medical Director of Lurie Children’s Wellness & Weight Management Program, emphasizes the importance of whole-family participation: “Children are much more likely to succeed with behavioral lifestyle changes if everyone in the family is working to change together.”
With New Year’s resolutions top of mind, these findings offer timely insights for your audience on building healthier family habits in 2025. Take a look at the full report if you haven’t already and let me know if you’re interested in speaking with a Lurie Children’s expert about effective strategies for parents.
See the full report here: https://www.luriechildrens.org/en/blog/childhood-obesity-statistics/
