At 1:30 p.m. yesterday, Acting Surgeon General Rear Admiral Dr. Steven K. Galson presented the Foundation and the District with an award for our work in fighting childhood obesity through “My Community Gets Healthy”. He said during the presentation that “Your efforts can serve as a model for others anywhere in the country.” Dr. Galson noted that collaborative efforts in creating and executing a successful program were to be commended.
Coverage from WISH-TV Channel 8
INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Indiana is showing signs of winning the battle of the childhood bulge while most states are not, according to the acting United States Surgeon General.
Rear Admiral Steven Galson said an alarming 12.5 million kids nationwide are overweight. But Indiana’s childhood obesity rate has held steady for three years while most other states have seen an increase.
“This state has really been in the lead at obesity prevention and attacking this epidemic of childhood overweight and obesity,” said Dr. Steven Galson.
Dr. Galson is traveling the nation calling attention to successful fitness programs that combat childhood obesity.
Locally, he recognized the Lawrence Township School District’s effort to get running programs into each of its schools.
Some 1300 students pounded the pavement in the Geist Mini-Marathon earlier this month.
And, the Lawrence kids can usually be spotted throughout the 500 Festival Mini-Marathon.
“Your efforts can serve as a model for others anywhere in this country,” said Dr. Galson.
Students at the IPS Howe Academy have been shaping up in the school’s fitness center.
IPS said instead of emphasizing games and sports in gym class, it places a greater emphasis on individual fitness.
And for that, IPS received a certificate from the surgeon general too.
Dr. Galson said he’s alarmed by the number of school districts nationwide that have cut out physical education to save money.
“I think we have to stop that. There’s a very, very close link between physical fitness and school performance,” said Dr. Galson.
And if schools are cutting back, then he said parents really need to step up and encourage family exercise.
“Some of the statistics demonstrate that this generation of youth may have shorter life spans than we do and that should be very disturbing for every parent, for every kid,” said Dr. Galson.
Indiana Health Commissioner Judith Monroe said Indiana recently improved from the 10th most obese state to the 21st.
Monroe announced on Wednesday that Indiana has received a multi-million dollar grant from the Centers for Disease Control that will be used over five years to continue battling childhood and adult obesity.
Report by Leslie Olsen, WISH. Edited by Hyacinth Williams.
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