Bookmark & Share

Favorites	Google
Digg	Del.icio.us
Twitter	Facebook

>> More...

Saint Joseph Health System of Orange, Calif., has awarded $3 million to expand an outreach campaign to address childhood obesity among low-income and minority children in Orange County, the Orange County Register reports. Created through a partnership between the American Academy of Pediatrics and Saint Joseph, the Healthy For Life/PE4Me program teaches students and their parents how to incorporate physical activity and a healthy diet into daily activities. As part of the program, a physical education teacher leads students through a curriculum that includes instruction on certain exercise activities and guidance on how to eat a more nutritious diet. Participants also receive three physical exams annually and are provided medical referrals if necessary. Because about 90 percent of participants are Latino, and most are of Mexican descent, the program also includes lessons by local chefs on how families can make nutritious and affordable Mexican dishes. The program currently serves about 1,500 students attending 47 schools in 20 cities, but the additional funding will allow for an expansion to 100 schools during the next three years. Some students participating in the program report that it has helped them and their families eat more fruits and vegetables and be more active. An initial evaluation with 10 high school students found that they lost an average of 6.3 pounds during their first semester in the program (Cisneros, Orange County Register, 2/17/09).