Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic in America and NAMA, the National Automatic Merchandising Association, wants to do everything it can to help reduce it. On January 13, 2005 professional football legend Lynn Swan helped unveil NAMA's Balanced for Life campaign. The program is designed to educate parents, teachers and students about nutrition, the elements of a balanced diet and the importance of being physically active.   

At the unveiling, NAMA CEO Richard Geerdes said, “We are parents too, and are just as concerned as everyone else about the devastating impact childhood obesity will have on our children and their futures.  We want to be part of the solution, which is why we have created this program.  If we can help our children truly understand the elements of a balanced diet and the importance of being physically active we can have a lasting impact on their lives, protecting and enhancing their futures.” 

Geerdes went on to discuss two important program elements: the campaign’s new website and its partnership with America Scores. The website, www.BalancedForLife.net, provides easy access to nutrition information for aprents and educators. It also offers games and special areas for kids so they can have fun while they learn. Working with America Scores promotes physical activity through the organization’s highly successful and popular after school soccer and literacy program. 

Geerdes outlined the campaign’s partnership with non-profit America Scores, saying, “Balanced for Life calls for kids to learn about nutrition and be more physically active, and through our partnership with America Scores, thousands of kids who, in many instances, don’t have access to any school PE programs at all, will learn all about nutrition and have the chance to be active after school playing organized soccer.”

Since 2005, NAMA has come a long way in keeping children educated about making informed choices and staying fit and the Balanced For Life program continues to expand.

 

More on Childhood Obesity

Some statistics on childhood obesity according to the National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion:

• Almost 80% of young people do not eat the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables.
• Nearly 9 million youth in the United States aged 6-19 years are overweight.
• Participation in physical activity declines as children get older. Overall, in 2005, 36% of 9-12 graders had participated in at least 60 minutes per day of physical activity.
• Nearly 37% of 9th graders, but only 33% of 12th graders, participated in 60 minutes of physical activity on a regular basis.
• The prevelance of overweight among children 6 to 11 has more than doubled in the past 20 years, going from 7% in 1980 to 19% in 2004.
• Several chronic disease risk factors are related to childhood overweight and obesity, including high blod pressure and high cholesterol.
• Overweight young people have a great likelihood of becoming overweight adults and developing diseases associated with adulthood, such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease.
• During the transition from childhood to adulthood, adolescents establish patterns of behavior and make lifestyle choices that affect both their current and future health.
• For more information visit www.cdc.gov