Long Beach, CA is ready to get serious about obesity in the city, after a survey of school kids produced alarming results.
The level of obesity in the Long Beach Unified School System was startling to city legislators and educators. A study of children in grades 5, 7 and 9 during the school years between 2003-2010 produced data that got the city thinking about how to deal with it.
The Long Beach Press Telegram reported on the results. The nonprofit think tank ReThinking Greater Long Beach analyzed the Body Mass Index of more than 5,000 children.
According to the data, an estimated 31% of those in grade five, 25% of seventh-graders and 21% of ninth-graders were obese. Even more alarming were the breakdown by ethnic group. Almost 40% of African-American and Latino children fell into the obese category.
Nationwide the number is an average of 1 in 3 children being classified as merely overweight or obese and it got the First Lady Michelle Obama thinking. Two years ago she kicked off her "Let's Move!" campaign which has been bandied about in some political circles as an unwelcome intrusion by government into the eating choices of Americans. Read: Sarah Palin hisses at Michelle Obama, "Hands off our desserts."
The "Move Long Beach" is modeled after Obama's program and the author is Councilman Robert Garcia. "People that are healthier work more, are more productive and are able to do things to be successful both at home and work, Garcia said.
The program, if adopted by the City Council would lead to an increase in organized fitness events around the city with money for marketing and advertising of the events to ensure that residents are aware of what is available for them. Garcia has pledged to participate in the current marathons and walks that take place annually.
In an email to constituents the councilman is encouraging residents to attend the City Council meeting scheduled for this evening and explained that the initiative would would ensure that the city's master planning document contains a focus on physical wellness and health.
It would also create an online resource for residents to learn about all of the great health events and opportunities in the city.
Not too long ago, Kaiser Permanente agreed to a grant of $1 million for the specific purpose of targeting poor neighborhoods in Long Beach. The dearth of fresh food and healthful choices in the lower income neighborhoods is expected to change over the three-year period of the grant.
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