Feb

24

Grad student joins city's obesity battle - The Salem News- Topic: Childhood Obesity News

Filed Under Childhood Obesity News | Leave a Comment

SALEM — A Harvard doctoral student has put together a radio announcement aimed at informing Salem parents about childhood nutrition and obesity. Jessica Garcia, a student at the Harvard School of Public Health, gathered focus groups of Salem parents last fall and worked with the school Food Services to conduct her research. Nationwide, more than 17 percent of children between ages 6 and 19 are obese, according to national studies conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. According to the CDC, nationwide obesity rates among boys, ages 12 to 19, are 16 percent for whites, 23 percent for blacks, and 21 percent for Hispanics. Garcia said radio stations are required to devote a certain amount of airtime to public service announcements, so she is pitching her PSA to local stations. The more they participate, the more resources (the district) will have in terms of commodities and the more fruits and vegetables they can buy. Read Childhood Obesity

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