Winston-Salem Battles Childhood Obesity Online

Winston-Salem Battles Childhood Obesity Online

March 13, 2012 |

The City of Winston-Salem is going digital to battle childhood obesity. According to local records, more than 30 percent of school-age children in Forsyth County are obese - medical professionals say this increases their risk of diabetes, heart problems and high blood pressure. It will also impact family budgets and that of the city to provide health care.

Tuesday morning, Winston-Salem Mayor Allen Joines announced a new initiative called the Mayor's Educational Childhood Obesity Prevention Program. "We've created an interactive website geared to the young person themselves that can go in and play games," explains Mayor Joines. "But at the same time, they're learning about nutrition and hopefully creating a more positive attitude about fruits and vegetabels."

Mayor Joines says the website will also teach youth a series of exercises they can do at home without equipment. There will also be information links for parents and healthy recipes that are easy to prepare.

According to Mayor Joines, a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine motivated him to create this program. The article said the current generation may be the first to have a shorter life-span than their parents. A $90,000 grant from the Kate B. Reynolds Foundation was used to create the website and educational materials

Several county and city agencies are collaborating with the city on this project. Other groups promoting healthy living are encouraged to link to this website.