The League Pulse Archives
The Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri: women building better communities.
Making an impact in reducing childhood obesity
By: Alise Kowalski, PR/Marketing Chair, 2013-14
The Kansas City Star recently highlighted the significant impact the Junior League of Kansas City, Missouri programming has had on reducing children’s obesity levels. According to Diane Stafford’s article, Blue Cross to target childhood obesity:
University Academy, a charter school at 6801 Holmes Road, has partnered with the Junior League and Harvesters to promote healthy diets and fitness. Among 50 students screened, the percentage who were overweight fell from 45.9 percent in the 2010-2011 school year to 36.9 percent in the 2011-2012 year, said University Academy Superintendent Tony Kline.
A 24 percent reduction in children’s obesity levels in just one year is music to our ears! The League is midway through our five year commitment to childhood nutrition, obesity prevention and fitness via our signature community impact program, Healthy U. The Healthy U program includes several layers of programming focused on nutrition and undernourishment, healthy choices, eating on a budget and fitness programming to help build a healthier Kansas City Community. Programs include the BackSnack program, Teen Eats, Family Dinners, Community Gardens, Fitness and Nutrition programming and the Classroom Adoption program. The Junior League’s programs focus on fighting food insecurity, student nutrition education, parent nutrition and cooking education, obesity prevention programming and fitness programming at all levels of the University Academy.
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