Guidelines for childhood obesity prevention programs: promoting healthy weight in children.

These guidelines for obesity prevention programs encourage a health-centered, rather than weight-centered, approach that focuses on the whole child, physically, mentally, and socially. The emphasis is on living actively, eating in normal and healthful ways, and creating a nurturing environment that helps children recognize their own worth and respects cultural foodways and family traditions. It is recognized that obesity, eating disorders, hazardous weight loss, nutrient deficiencies, size discrimination, and body hatred are all interrelated and need to be addressed in comprehensive ways that do no harm.