The
average U.S. child collects between 3,500 and 7,000 calories from candy
on Halloween night, a public health expert estimates. Donna Arnett,
head of the department of epidemiology at the University of Alabama at
Birmingham School of Public Health, said a 100-pound child who consumes
7,000 calories would have to walk for nearly 44 hours or play full-court
basketball for 14.5 hours to burn off those calories. “Though Halloween
alone is not going to be a major overall contributor to our children’s
health, any behaviors they learn can have an effect,” Arnett said.
Nearly 17% of U.S. children and teens ages 2-19 are obese and 31% are
overweight or obese. Arnett suggested giving out non-candy items, such
as plastic bat rings or spooky stickers, or better yet, money.
Trick-or-treating does involve walking, so Arnett advised to leave the
car behind and walk with children on Halloween – and other days as well.
Give each child a pedometer and make a contest out of who takes the
most steps – just don’t make the prize candy.
