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START Child Health campaign – January 2025

START Child Health campaign is an annual, month-long public health event in January. It is organized by safefood, Healthy Ireland, the Departments of Health in Northern Ireland, and the Republic of Ireland, along with the Health Service Executive and the Public Health Agency. The campaign aims to encourage the consumption of healthier food and the adoption of a more active lifestyle. START provides parents with varying suggestions to help improve the well-being of their kids — from a better diet to reduced screen time. The campaign’s end goal is to ensure a brighter future for today’s children.

History of START Child Health campaign

‘Nutrition’ refers to the “process of providing or obtaining the food necessary for health and growth.” Of course, the standards and ideas of what constitutes a “good” diet for children have evolved. The early 20th Century was strongly impacted by the World Wars and the Great Depression, causing general malnourishment among kids. Nutrition programs, thus, focused on providing children with food grains to ensure their survival. School lunch programs,specifically, played a huge role in ensuring that infants were being fed at least one substantial meal a day. However, the economic troubles created by war and recession limited the supply of funds, threatening the continuity of such projects.

As economic conditions improved, access to food also increased for many people. A relatively new problem emerging today is childhood obesity. Nowadays, about 12.7% of the two- to five-year-olds are clinically overweight. This poses several health risks. It can cause joint problems, along with respiratory difficulties. The social implications of obesity can often lead to mental and emotional hurdles of low self-esteem and lack of confidence due to the social isolation individuals can be subjected to. Obese children also tend to become obese as adults, thus leading to the risk of diseases like type two diabetes.

The START Child Health Campaign is a month-long event in Ireland that aims to encourage the consumption of healthier food and the adoption of a more active lifestyle. START provides parents with varying suggestions to help improve the health of their kids — from a better diet to reduced screen time. The campaign’s end goal is to ensure a brighter future for today’s children.

START Child Health campaign timeline

July 28, 1914
WWI

The First World War begins

1929
The Great Depression

The Great Depression begins.

September 1, 1939
WWII

The Second World War begins.

2017
START Child Health Campaign

The START Child Health campaign is started by safefood.

START Child Health campaign FAQs

Why is children's health important?

Children are vulnerable beings who can be at higher risk of illness.

What is considered childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is characterized by a body mass index-for-age percentile greater than 95%.

Is childhood obesity a problem?

Yes, it is.

How to Observe START Child Health campaign

  1. Go for a health checkup

    If you are in charge of a child’s care, begin the month by taking your kid for a health check-up. This is crucial and should become habitual.

  2. Decide on one small change and stick to it

    Decide on a health-improving change with your kid. Then consistently stick to the decision.

  3. Encourage your child

    You can’t scold, punish, or pressure anyone into making a longstanding, positive change. Encourage your kid and praise them for the effort they are putting into making healthier life choices.

5 Super Important Facts About Nutrition

  1. Added sugar can be harmful

    While everything is alright in moderation, too much added sugar, commonly used to improve the taste of packaged foods, is unhealthy.

  2. Omega-3 fats are important and scarcely consumed

    Omega-3 fats are essential to human nutrition, but most people aren’t getting enough of them in their diet.

  3. There is no perfect diet

    Though the internet is saturated with different kinds of fad diets, there is no one “best” diet.

  4. Eating vegetables is good for you

    Vegetables are a rich source of nutrients, and eating more of them is linked with improved health.

  5. Supplements can’t replace real foods

    While supplements are a great way to ensure you’re getting all essential nutrients, they can never actually replace real food.

Why START Child Health campaign is Important

  1. It encourages health awareness

    It is increasingly crucial to understand the status of your child’s health. The START Child Health Campaign is a good reminder to catch up with it.

  2. It highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle

    The START Child Health Campaign highlights how important maintaining a healthy lifestyle is. Discover all the ways today.

  3. It encourages health behavior changes

    The START Child Health campaign encourages changes in health behavior whenever necessary. Learn all their is to know.

START Child Health campaign dates

YearDateDay
2025January 1Wednesday
2026January 1Thursday
2027January 1Friday
2028January 1Saturday
2029January 1Monday
Celebration of Life Week
Celebration of Life Week
Diet Resolution Week
Diet Resolution Week
National Time Consciousness Week
New Year’s Resolutions Week
Silent Record Week
World Series of Beer Pong
Apple Gifting Day
Apple Gifting Day
Commitment Day
Commitment Day
Copyright Law Day
Ellis Island Day
Ellis Island Day
Euro Day
Euro Day
National First-Foot Day
First-Foot Day
Global Family Day
Haitian Independence Day
International Public Domain Day
Mummer's Parade
National Bloody Mary Day
National Hangover Day
National Shepherd Day
New Year's Day
New Year’s Dishonor List Day
New Year’s Dishonor List Day
Polar Bear Plunge Day
Public Domain Day
Ring a Bell Day
Rose Bowl Game
Solemnity of Mary
Sudan Independence Day
Tournament of Roses Parade
Triumph of the Revolution
Triumph of the Revolution
Universal Hour of Peace
Universal Hour of Peace
World Day of Peace
Z Day
Z Day
Adopt a Rescued Bird Month
Apple and Apricot Month
Artichoke and Asparagus Month
Be Kind To Food Servers Month
Bread Machine Baking Month
Bread Machine Baking Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
California Restaurant Month
California Restaurant Month
Celebration Of Life Month
Celebration Of Life Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Cervical Health Awareness Month
Children Impacted by Parent's Cancer Month
Clap 4 Health Month
Dry January
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
Financial Wellness Month
Get A Balanced Life Month
Get A Balanced Life Month
Get Ireland Active
Get Organized Month
Get Organized Month
Ginuary
International Brain Teaser Month
International Change Your Stars Month
International Child-Centered Divorce Month
International Creativity Month
International Creativity Month
International Quality of Life Month
International Wayfinding Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
Learn to Ski and Snowboard Month
Little Things Mental Health Campaign
Manuary
March of Dimes Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Bath Safety Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Birth Defects Prevention Month
National Black Diamond Month
National Blood Donor Month
National Book Blitz Month
National Braille Literacy Month
National CBD Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Codependency Awareness Month
National Codependency Awareness Month
National Conscience Month
National Eye Care Month
National Eye Care Month
National Fiber Focus Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Hobby Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Meat Month
National Mentoring Month
National Menudo Month
National Oatmeal Month
National Personal Trainer Awareness Month
National Polka Month
National Pre-Pregnancy Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National Skating Month
National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month
National Slow Cooking Month
National Soup Month
National Staying Healthy Month
National Sunday Supper Month
National Thank You Month
National Train Your Dog Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
National Wheat Bread Month
Poverty Awareness Month
Poverty in America Awareness Month
Prune Breakfast Month
Receding Gums Awareness Month
Retail Bakers Month
Rising Star Month
Self-Love Month
Shape Up US Month
Stalking Awareness Month
START Child Health campaign
Teen Driving Awareness Month
Teen Driving Awareness Month
Thyroid Awareness Month
Tubers and Dried Fruit Month
Unchain a Dog Month
Veganuary
Walk Your Dog Month

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