You're listening to Well Now, Slates Podcast on Health and Wellness. I'm Kavita Patel.

And I'm Maya Fowler.

Today we're diving into a topic that's on every parent's mind right now.

Back to school health and wellness.

You know Maya, there's something in the air this time of the year.

Maybe it's the smell of freshly sharpened pencils or the rustle of new

backpacks, but back to school season always feels like a fresh start. It's like January 1st, but with more homework.

And just like New Year's resolutions,

it's the perfect time to set some health goals

for our kids and ourselves.

As we dive into the topic of back to school health

and wellness, it's important to understand

the current state of children's health in the United

States. Recent data paints a complex picture of both progress and ongoing challenges.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that the vast majority of school-age children have access to regular health care, which is crucial for maintaining children's health.

But the incidence of childhood diabetes in the United States has doubled in the past two decades.

Only 25% of kids six and older in this country meet the recommended guidelines for daily physical activity.

This is a significant health issue that can have long lasting

impacts on children's overall well-being and future health outcomes.

Mental health is another area of growing concern. Recent data from the CDC show that while there have been some

improvements many students still struggle with mental health issues. In

2023 40% of high school students reported experiencing persistent

...