Kids today face a lot of health challenges from unhealthy eating and lack of sleep and exercise. Only about a quarter (20-28%) of children get enough daily exercise, and nearly 1 in 3 U.S. children are considered overweight or obese. Abbott’s Future Well Kids program is designed to inspire young people to build healthy habits early in life to help reduce the risk of chronic disease.   

Through hands‑on, fun activities, games and science-based lessons, Future Well Kids helps children understand how daily choices around nutrition, movement, sleep, hydration and stress shape long‑term health. It also offers families, teachers and volunteers meaningful ways to support kids’ wellbeing.

Why early health education matters

Chronic conditions like Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure often begin developing in childhood. As leaders in preventing, treating, managing and caring for chronic disease, Abbott has been working to help people live fuller, healthier lives – and that starts with children. That’s why we launched our partnership with Sesame Workshop in January 2026 to help kids at a young age build healthy patterns for life, complementing our longstanding Future Well Kids program to reach kids in middle school. 

These programs and partnerships take a preventive approach, helping young children and adolescents understand how healthy behaviors can help prevent and lower the risk of developing chronic illness later in life.

Future Well Kids is designed for children between 10-13, who are growing up and starting to make their own choices, which is why it’s so important to get them actively involved in making good decisions for their health. 

Expanding access: a new partnership reaching more kids

For the 2025-2026 school year, Abbott is expanding the reach of Future Well Kids through a new licensing agreement with the Boys & Girls Club of Lake County, Illinois. More than 600 students from 11 locations will participate in monthly courses led by youth development professionals, trained and supported by Abbott program managers and volunteers. Sessions include "Get Moving,” “The Science Behind Healthy Eating,” and “Stress Out” – all designed to help reduce chronic disease risk.

This expansion builds on the program’s strong foundation in nearby schools and deepens Abbott’s engagement with community partners that support youth year‑round.

In February, a session – “Get Moving” – was held at Edith M. Smith Middle School in Waukegan, Illinois. Led by Boys & Girls Club youth development professionals and Abbott volunteers, the course guided students through activity stations to help them work toward 60 minutes of daily physical activity – and have fun doing it.

Inside the Future Well Kids program

Future Well Kids first launched in 2019 in the U.S., Ireland and Mexico and has since expanded to Colombia, India and the United Kingdom.

Grounded in Abbott’s expertise in nutrition, cardiovascular health and diabetes care, the program equips kids with practical knowledge, supports teachers and engages Abbott volunteers.

Developed by Abbott’s philanthropic foundation, Abbott Fund, and Discovery Education, the curriculum pairs real‑world lessons with hands‑on activities. Students build everyday skills – like planning healthy meals, setting fitness goals and evaluating health information – while learning how to make healthier choices.

Coordinators can choose from six modules focused on nutrition, movement, sleep and mental wellbeing. Each includes clear guidance, student materials, inclusive adaptations and reflection prompts, making it easy for educators and volunteers to lead.

What students learn – key modules and experiences

• The Science Behind Healthy Eating
  Students explore nutrients, food groups and the difference between whole and processed foods, learning how small dietary changes support long‑term health.
• Stress Out!
  Kids practice techniques like square breathing, muscle relaxation and visualization – tools they can use during school or before tests.
• Get Moving!
  Students try aerobic, strength, flexibility and bone‑building exercises, track their heart rate and set goals using a Physical Activity Tracker.
• Bedtime
  Through the Bedtime Charades activity, students identify “sleep villains” like bright lights or caffeine and discover how better sleep supports focus, mood and energy.

• What’s the Difference: Communicable vs. Noncommunicable Diseases  
  A life‑sized Venn diagram helps students compare how diseases spread and how lifestyle habits influence risk – reinforcing the role of hygiene, good nutrition and daily activity.

Get involved: supporting the next generation’s health

Families can get involved to help keep the healthy activities (and fun) going beyond the classroom or event.

Additional resources are available at FutureWellKids.com/for-families, including:

• Family activities like choreographed dancing and food experiments
• Self-paced modules
• Healthy Living Fact Sheets
• Family conversation starters

For young children (ages 3-5), you can access the Abbott and Sesame Workshop resources on Healthy Habits at Sesame.org/HealthyHabits including fun activity pages for kids, storybooks and more.