Georgia Reduces Childhood Obesity Rate
Georgia has reduced childhood obesity by five percent, according to new federal figures.
Just a few years ago, Georgia ranked second worst in the country. Now the state is 17th from the bottom.
“Cautiously optimistic is the right phrase,” said Brenda Fitzgerald, the state’s public health commissioner.
In 2009, Georgia lawmakers passed a law requiring each local school district conduct an annual fitness exam for each student.
Now stocked with updated data, Fitzgerald is urging all schools to devote 30 minutes each day for students to do some type of physical activity. It’s part of a statewide campaign called Georgia SHAPE.
“The important thing for the school directors is, one, we need to do it because of the health problem in Georgia but clearly the data indicates if you have physical activity during the day you have increased test scores.”
Fitzgerald says the campaign is important not just for children’s well-being, but also to cut down on state medical costs associated with obesity, which total more than $2 billion per year.
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