BCBS Ga. Helping to tackle childhood obesity

How do you tackle Georgia's childhood obesity epidemic?

According a report by BCBS, Georgia has the second highest rate of childhood obesity in the US, with one in three kids (37.3 percent) in the state classified as obese. Almost half of children ages 10 to 14 fail to meet the recommended level of physical activity.

This is regarded as being an epidemic level of obesity and Blue Cross Blue Shield say that the health risks associated with obesity can lead to serious physical and emotional consequences for Georgia's children, including high blood pressure, diabetes and low self-esteem:

This has the effect of holding our children back and keeping them from reaching their true potential. Georgia’s youth deserve to be given the tools to live a happy and healthy life.

For hundreds of kids in Georgia, the 2011 Kids' Wheel and Run event marked the start of a program designed to get them walking, running and 'wheeling'.

Over 70 Kids finished the 5K event , sponsored by BCBS Ga, and held in November 20th 2011 at Piedmont Park.

The Healthy Kids Program is an initiative of Lt. Governor Casey Cagle, who opened the event.

“I am confident that with the right civic leadership and motivation across the state we can successfully change the culture surrounding health and physical fitness to create a healthier generation of Georgians.”