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HomeSportsMatthew Walker Community Health Center seeks to address child obesity

Matthew Walker Community Health Center seeks to address child obesity

Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center, Inc.Fighting Childhood Obesity through Its Revival of famed Double Dutch Sport Competition – Matthew Walker Comprehensive Health Center utilizes age-old childhood activity to combat unhealthy trends in children in socio-economic dis/stressed households.

One treatment for obesity in children is increasing their physical activity. The US Surgeon General recommends that children get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each and every day. Individualized programs like Reviving Double Dutch facilitated by MWCHC, are available for those children that are not able to meet minimum expectations.

Marisa Morgan, age 11, demonstrates her skill at “Double Dutch” rope jumping. (Coriana Close, Plain Press)
Marisa Morgan, age 11, demonstrates her skill at “Double Dutch” rope jumping. (Coriana Close, Plain Press)

Tennessee has the 4th highest rate of overweight youths, ages 10-17 at 20 percent in the nation, according to a report by Trust for America ‘s Health (TFAH). Approximately, 60 percent of overweight children ages, 5-10 have at least one physiological risk factor for heart disease and stroke, such as elevated total cholesterol, triglycerides, insulin or high blood pressure. Twenty five percent of overweight children had two or more such risk factors.

Tennessee ’s annual tab for obesity is running a hefty 1.8 billion dollars a year. Children without health insurance or those with public insurance, such as TennCare or CoverKids, have higher obesity rates than children with private insurance.

* Editor’s Note: The Plain Press can be found on the web at http://www.nhlink.net/plainpress/, We appreciate them allowing us to use their double dutch photo above.)

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