Winthrop-University Hospital's Parenting Today educational series will offer a free lecture, "Healthy Kids: Weight Management for Children & Teens," on Wednesday, November 5, at 7:00 PM. The program will be held at Winthrop's Community Outreach Center, 101 Mineola Boulevard, at the corner of Second Street in Mineola.

A growing percentage of children and teens are overweight and this puts them at risk for a variety of serious medical conditions and social problems. According to the National Institutes of Health, the number of children who are overweight in the United States has doubled in the last two to three decades. The increase is in both children and adolescents, and in all age, race and gender groups; the health implications are enormous.

Colleen Farley-Cornell, MS, RD, CDN, Program Coordinator of the Healthy Kids Program at Winthrop, will explain Winthrop's "Healthy Kids" program, as well as the dangers of being overweight, the causes, and simple steps you can take to help your child develop a healthy lifestyle. A question and answer period will follow the lecture.

Attendees are asked to arrive at 6:45 PM and park in the rear of the building. Admission is free, but seating is limited and reservations are required. To reserve your space, call 1-877-559-KIDS.

The Parenting Today program is coordinated by Children's Health Services and the Department of Pediatrics, part of the Institute for Family Care at Winthrop. For information on other programs at the Hospital, please call 1-866-WINTHROP.