Mitchell Boulevard Elementary fights obesity with “‘Get Up and Go!’ walk”

by PegNews wire

Students from FWISD's Mitchell Boulevard Elementary hit the pavement on Saturday, June 9, along with their families and members of the community for the "Get Up and Go! Walk".

Though this photo is likely older than the internet itself, it never fails as a good 'fat kid' visual aid.

The one-and-a-half-mile walk is part of Tarrant County's FitFuture program, committed to decreasing obesity throughout the county. The program's goal is to reduce obesity and the number of overweight children and adults in Tarrant County by 10 percent by 2010.

Mitchell Boulevard Elementary School is located in an area of Fort Worth that has some of the county's highest levels of obesity. The United Way, in partnership with UNTHSC School of Public Health and JPS Health Network Department of Family Medicine, is funding FitFuture and organizing a three-year project that combines exercise, nutrition education and family involvement. Because weight and health are family issues, the program emphasizes the involvement of family members.

Fort Worth City Council Representative Kathleen Hicks kicked off the "Get Up and Go! Walk" at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday. Participants had the opportunity to be matched with walking buddies in their neighborhoods. A bounce house and other fun activities was set up for the jiggly children, and participants entered to win prizes, including iPods and boxes of cheese.

Sponsors of the "Get Up and Go! Walk" include the United Way, JPS Health Network, Fort Worth Independent School District and University of North Texas Health Science Center.

Source: FWISD