Eat. Move. Live.

Friday, Feb. 25

A sampling of obesity in the news this week:

Wisconsin

Column: American Heart Month; State of the State
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, 02/19/2011 “(Obesity) is a major contributor to heart disease and continues to affect larger numbers of American youth. We must promote physical activity for our children and ourselves in order to maintain healthy lifestyles and communities,” wrote State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore.

The problem: Obesity and lack of physical activity
La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse County Health Department, 02/19/2011 “Nearly 1 in 4 high school students and 2 of 3 adults in La Crosse County are overweight or obese. Overweight or obese youth are at higher risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease at a young age.

Nationally (adapted from RWJF News Digest: Childhood Obesity)

Hurley Elementary Is Inspiring Students to Run Toward Better Health
Visalia Times-Delta, Hillary S. Meeks, 02/21/2011
Sun or fog, during January and February, youngsters at Hurley Elementary School in Visalia can be seen running around the makeshift track that was created five years ago for the aspiring marathon runners. Four laps, past the basketball courts and through the soccer fields and back around the playground equals one mile. Each time the 1-mile marker is hit, the participating student gets another flip-flop charm to add to his or her necklace of “soles.” Eventually, those charms will add up to 26.2 miles — a full marathon — one mile at a time. About 80 percent of the student body participates, said Julie Berk, the school's principal.

Jackson Elementary Promotes Better Nutrition With Salad Bar
Whittier Daily News, Tracy Garcia, 02/24/2011
They've already amped up their Physical Education program and educated parents about health and nutrition - and now, a new salad bar at Jackson Elementary School is giving upper-graders more of a say in the food choices they make. The portable salad bar, funded by a $3,000 grant from the Kaiser Permanente Downey medical office, was rolled out for the first time last week at Jackson - and it's the first such salad bar in the Whittier City School District.