Georgia Slims Down Childhood Obesity Rate
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
On July 25, Georgia Children’s Advocacy Network is holding a panel that’s focused on reducing childhood obesity.Georgia officials say the state is making strides in the fight against childhood obesity. WABE's John Lorinc reports.
State officials say Georgia has a long history of obesity.
“Part of it is an issue with poverty. And with poverty comes lack of access to quality foods. Also, issues of safety, which keeps kids from playing outside, being active and walking to school,” says Pat Willis, the executive director for Voices for Georgia’s Children, which sponsors the Advocacy Network.
But, Georgia is improving. In 2007, the state ranked 49th in childhood obesity…..but the most recent survey from the CDC, in 2011, shows Georgia rose to 33rd place.
The state’s Department of Health would like to see trend continue.
“It’s our goal to get 30 additional minutes of physical activity in every school in Georgia. This would be in addition to regularly scheduled Phys Ed classes,” says DPH spokeswoman Nancy Nydam.
Members of the state’s Department of Early Care and Learning and the Department of Public Health are among those attending.
So is Dr. Deborah Murray, with the University of Georgia’s Family and Consumer Sciences Department.
She says fighting childhood obesity takes a village.
“We’ve got to be supportive of families and the test of us should be there to support that effort,” says Murray.
The public is invited to attend the event at the Loudermilk Center, in downtown Atlanta.
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