PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Testimony by Dr. Sanjivan Patel, Chairman of Department of Pediatrics at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, on Nutrition Standards for Kids' Meals
2:22:46
ยท
173 sec
Dr. Sanjivan Patel, Chairman of Department of Pediatrics at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, testified in support of Intro 641, which would require improved nutrition standards for kids' meals in New York City restaurants. He highlighted the growing problem of childhood obesity, including neonatal obesity, and emphasized the importance of addressing this issue early in life.
- Dr. Patel shared CDC statistics on childhood obesity rates across different age groups.
- He discussed the "HEAL" (Healthy Eating, Active Living) program implemented at his medical center.
- The testimony included recommendations for healthy habits, such as eating fresh vegetables, drinking water, engaging in physical activity, getting enough sleep, limiting screen time, and practicing stress management techniques.
Dr. Sanjivan Patel
2:22:46
Committee.
2:22:48
It is my pleasure to present here and also testify.
2:22:52
My name is doctor Sanjeevann Patel.
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I'm serving the New York City at Board of Brooklyn for more than 4 decades in a capacity of a physician.
2:23:01
At present, I'm a chairman of Department of Pediatrics at, Wyckoff Heights Medical Center, Bushwick, Brooklyn, and, also on behalf of, American Academy of Pediatrics, I'm a president of chapter 2 and a fellow of obesity section, American Academy of Pediatrics.
2:23:17
I'm speaking today here to urge counsel to support the intro 641 requiring the improved nutrition standard for the restaurant kids meals into New York City.
2:23:28
Well, as everybody is aware of it and quite a few previous speaker has mentioned, but I would like to allude to you, at present, we are facing neo neonatal, I'm a neonatologist, neonatal obesity also.
2:23:45
Newborn baby is born average 200 grams means half a pound of unhealthy weight and that leads to 1st 1000 days.
2:23:58
If we don't take care of these kids from the conception to the 2nd birthday, we are facing this unfortunate challenge of unhealthy weight for lifelong and it brings a lot more challenges.
2:24:12
As CDC in childhood obesity, has mentioned in 20 up to 2017 to 2020, 12.7 percent 2 to 5 years of age obesity, 20.7 percent 6 years to 11 years, 22.2% 12 to 20 years of age.
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Altogether, I would say 1 out of 5 kids and and particularly resources restricted neighborhood like, Vyco Fites Medical Center, we have a very high challenge.
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And that's why we embark on a heal program.
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We call it healthy eating, active living.
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And that's
Lynn Schulman
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You can sum up.
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You can take a couple
Dr. Sanjivan Patel
2:24:52
I should.
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I'll and, so fresh vegetables and seasonal fruits.
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Drink water instead of sugary drinks.
2:25:01
Find physical activity which kids love it as in the school and also the teacher, parents, everybody has to participate.
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Enough sleep 8 to 10 hours.
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Screen time should be limited, less than 2 hours and self care, stress, mental health challenges, breath work, meditation, mindfulness, journaling, yoga.
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It helps the benefits like achieve the healthy weight, healthy teeth because dental caries is a big problem, supports the muscles and bones, fractures are less, immunity boosting, gastrointestinal function will improve, better brain development and a healthy growth of the kids.
2:25:38
I support strongly.