PUPPETS COMBAT CHILDHOOD OBESITY ACROSS NORTH AMERICA
 
Columbia, MD (October 20, 2006) – "When you tried to lose weight, did you do well during the week and then completely mess up on the weekends?"  "Isn't it hard to eat healthy food all the time?"  "Did you sit around a lot when you were growing up?"  These and other questions are being addressed by The Kids on the Block, an internationally known educational puppet troupe, who have been spreading important health messages, designed to combat childhood obesity, across North America. 

According to the American Obesity Association, approximately 30.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are overweight and 15.3 percent are obese.  Of adolescents (ages 12 to 19), 30.4 percent are overweight and 15.5 percent are obese.  Most experts agree that children who are extremely overweight are more likely to develop health problems such as non-insulin dependent diabetes and sleep apnea.  Overweight children also tend to grow into overweight adults, which could put them at risk for myriad health problems.  

Since being introduced earlier this year, The Kids on the Block Program on Combating Childhood Obesity and Overweight has been expanding its' reach.  Thanks to the efforts of numerous organizations, Kids on the Block puppets are addressing these important issues in California, Connecticut, Kentucky, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington and  in the Canadian Province of Ontario.

The Kids on the Block, Inc. worked in conjunction with Tennessee On the Move and the University of Tennessee Nutrition Institute to bring these important health lessons to children.  Tennessee On the Move is an affiliate of America On the Move, which encourages all Americans to gain the health benefits of moving more and reducing calories, regardless of current fitness level.  The Kids on the Block Program on Combating Childhood Obesity and Overweight is designed to be implemented by local organizations and strives to help prevent health problems through discussion of possible causes and effects of unhealthy lifestyles while encouraging children (and adults) to set realistic goals and achieve them through small changes.  Other issues addressed include considering foods as fuel for the body, increasing daily physical movement by making more active choices for free time and promoting sensitivity, understanding and acceptance of differences in body types.

 


Media Inquiries:
Aric Darroe (410)290-9095
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The Kids on the Block, Inc. is an educational puppet company which uses live puppet theatre to educate children about sensitive topics, including disability awareness.  Over 1,600 associate troupes use curricula developed by The Kids on the Block, Inc. to deliver messages of sensitivity, acceptance and responsible decision making to children around the world.