Congratulations to our Bureau of Nutrition and Physical Activity for their grant award announced this month from the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials Leadership for Healthy Communities program. Over the coming year, we’ll be strengthening our capacity to make a dent in childhood obesity by conducting a health impact assessment to prevent childhood obesity in Arizona.
We’ll be working with Maricopa County to develop a health impact assessment that locals can access in their land use decisions- helping communities to make development and land use decisions that better support healthy eating and active living. Communities will be able to voluntarily sign up for the process which will help them look at options like sidewalks, bike paths and green areas to promote physical activity and community gardens to increase access to fresh locally grown fruits and vegetables.
On Wednesday I went into my local town and it struck me how many people must be affected by obesity/ It really got me thinking about the link between fast food and obesity, particularly because I saw so many overweight people munching as they ambled about. I wanted to say “stop eating and get moving” but I know it’s not always that simple!
I think it’s time that more teenage magazines took responsibility and covered more serious issues such as obesity diet.
With the amazing increase in childhood obesity, we have to wonder how we let our whole lifestyle and dietary patterns change so much and where we’re heading in the future.
I for one, am worried about this issue for my three kids who, I’m ashamed to say, are carrying way more weight then they should be.
The trend to forget a real-life soccer ball outside in favor of a virtual soccer ball on a games machine is something that should disturb us all when we’re more than aware that, as a species, we need to exercise.
It’s nice to know the Bureau of nutrition is getting the support it needs to look at this important issue.
Darvin