Cleveland Mayor Tom Rowland declared February 2012, Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. This declaration was centered on the Lee University Bateman Team’s campaign, “Eat. Move. Grow United.” The campaign is helping to fight childhood obesity by raising awareness in the community.
The campaign’s biggest effort to involve and educate local elementary and middle school children in a fun run, “Go United” will take place on Saturday. The event will be on The Cleveland/Bradley Greenway at 10 a.m.
The “Go United” event is focused on educating children and parents of the effects of childhood obesity. Children will have the opportunity to take Kids Zumba lessons taught by YMCA trainers and learn about healthy foods through Jennifer Norton from the Cleveland Greenway Table. Many organizations in Cleveland, such as local public schools, have already partnered with the Bateman Team to make the event a success.
“I always encourage students to find activities that they enjoy to adopt a healthy lifestyle that goes farther than just what they have to do in class. They are more likely to continue living healthy if they find it enjoyable,” said Coach Turner Jackson, Bradley Central High School athletic director.
Statistics show that 36.5 percent of children and adolescents in Tennessee are overweight or obese. Tennessee is ranked the 5th highest state in the nation for childhood obesity.
"Eat. Move. Grow United.” will not only challenge children and adolescents to live a healthier lifestyle, but also assist and educate the parents of these children so that their knowledge can help shape today’s Cleveland for a healthier tomorrow, officials said.
To sign up and receive more information, visit
www.eatmovegrowunited.com. Or, visit the “Eat. Move. Grow United” Facebook page at
www.facebook.com/eatmovegrowunited.