More than 100,000 fourth- and fifth-grade students in San Diego County and around Southern California are taking part in a campaign to combat childhood obesity, it was announced today.
The school-based "Kid Healthy -- Steps to Healthy Living Campaign" seeks to reinforce the importance of healthy eating and exercise for students and parents in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego and Ventura counties.
The elementary school campaign, which runs through April 30, was started by ABC7 and is supported by a coalition of local nonprofit volunteers, state and county agencies and corporate sponsors.
According to a 2008 report published by Children Now, childhood obesity has doubled nationally in the past three decades.
More than 3 million California children -- about a third of all children statewide -- are considered overweight or obese, while only about 25 percent of youngsters meet or exceed state physical fitness standards.
"There has been progress on this important public health issue," said Jackie Teichmann, regional director for Kid Healthy. "But the truth is we're far from reversing the trends."
"As these children age into adulthood, if obesity goes unchecked they will experience chronic illness and death at a much earlier age than their parents," she said. "And that's a real tragedy, especially when we have an opportunity to do something about it -- right now."
