Girl Scouts Promote Healthy Living for Girls

Girls Aspire to be "Normal Healthy" According to New Girl Scout Research Institute Study

A new Girl Scout Research Institute study sheds light on the childhood obesity crisis by asking girls directly how they define health and what motivates them to lead a healthier lifestyle.

The study, which brings the voice of girls to the forefront of the conversation on childhood obesity for the first time, finds that girls are in many ways ahead of the curve, using a varied, complex set of norms to define health.

Today's girls are defining "health" on their own terms, placing the same value on emotional well-being and self-esteem as they do on diet and exercise.

For girls, being healthy is more than just eating right and exercising; it is also about feeling good about oneself and being supported by family and peers.

Girls say that efforts to reduce childhood and adolescent obesity that focus solely on nutrition or physical activity miss the mark.

"This research gives us a window into girls' view on health and it illustrates conflicting messages they receive from peers, parents and the media," says Dr. Lilian Cheung, lecturer and director of health promotion and communication for the Harvard School of Public Health's Department of Nutrition and also an advisor to the study. "The study will help us advance research and strategies that potentially help control obesity and instill healthy lifestyles among Girl Scouts as well as girls and families nationwide."

Learn more about what girls said…