Fighting childhood obesity

Over the past few years the issue of childhood obesity has surfaced again and again. In spite of sounding the alarm, the problem does not seem to be diminishing since statistics show that during the last three decades childhood obesity rates have tripled. Currently one in three children in America is overweight or obese and the numbers are even higher in the African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40 percent of the children are overweight or obese. According to Stanford University School of Medicine, today’s kids spend less time playing outdoors than any previous generation.

In 2010 First Lady, Michelle Obama, launched “Let’s Move” to fight this epidemic. The Seventh-day Adventist Church has joined some 50 other faith and community organizations in supporting this national initiative. I, as the Health Ministry Director of the Ritzville Adventist church, would like to invite the Ritzville community to be counted among those taking an interest in the health and welfare of its children and become active toward changing this picture, possibly within one generation.

Your local Adventist Church, with the backing and blessings of Mayor Linda Kadlec, has launched a “LET’S MOVE DAY” for Sept. 25, 2011, 2 p.m. at the quarter-mile running track behind the high school gym. Walk it as many times as you wish, then report back to me (you will know who I am) so we can tally up the total miles walked, and add ours to the rest of those walking in North America on that day. The objective is to reach the 1,000,000-mile mark, to begin an awareness nationwide that leads to action with results.

Following up then, October shall be dubbed “walk to school month.” Walk with your child or team him/her up with a buddy. Encourage your child to participate in this physical activity. Start a family tradition. Regardless of the weather, take a walk around the block each evening after dinner.

So come, any and all of you that can. Come as families. Come to the running track behind the gym at the high school Sept. 25 at 2 p.m. Let us show support for our kids by joining them. Water and snacks provided.

Lois Smith, RN, Health Ministries Director, Ritzville Seventh-day Adventist Church