The fight against Childhood Obesity has been a passion of mine for almost 20 years. As a teenager I struggled with my weight. With a program of diet and exercise I was able to make a lifestyle change. Subsequent to that, I was fortunate enough to win a state teen pageant, and it was then I realized my personal story, along with the opportunity the pageant provides, allowed me to reach out on a local and national level to help others in the fight against childhood obesity.
In 1995, I was Assistant Information Director at the Arkansas State Senate bending the ear of Lt. Governor Mike Huckabee about the importance of this issue. Shortly after, a Senate Bill was passed, governing the types of foods and the times the vending machines were to be on in the schools in Arkansas. In addition, Arkansas is one of the states that now does BMI (Body Mass Index) testing and informs the parents of the risks of being overweight.


FIGHTING FAST FOOD FAT... Find ways to keep your family happy and healthy!
ENCOURAGE ACTIVITY... Exercise with your kids and set a good example.
HEALTH BENEFITS... Learn about the Alliance Healthcare Initiative









FACTS ABOUT CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Childhood Obesity is preventable (all childhood obesity)
These children are believed to be the first generation with a shorter life expectancy.
These children carry their health problems into adulthood.
All the fat cells developed before the age of 18 stay with you the rest of your life. It is better to carry fewer into adulthood.
Health care costs for an obese child are triple that of a normal-weight child.
Children are taking drugs for high cholesterol and diabetes. Both are risk factors for Heart Disease.
Overweight and Obese children often suffer from depression and low self-esteem.

American Heart Association