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PUTTING |
by Borden Black
Video game staples of avatars, competition and Wiis are all part of a plan for Columbus seventh graders to get fit while having fun.
The Background
Although the youngsters may not be concerned,
their parents are certainly aware
that childhood obesity is becoming an epidemic,
and the associated medical problems
are recognized as one of the country’s most
important health issues. From 1995 to
2004, obesity increased in boys from 14 to
24 percent and in girls from 15 to 26 percent.
As the prevalence increases, the rates of
diabetes and pre-diabetes, hypertension
and cholesterol disorders are also increasing.
Dealing with the problem is challenging, according to experts, because traditional physician visits do not motivate children or adolescents to make lasting and significant lifestyle modifications. In addition, parental involvement, while positive, has not been shown to be very effective in managing childhood weight. Often the eating habits of parents present a negative model.
The difficulty in addressing the problem and the alarming statistics led Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and founder of the Center for Health Transformation (CHT), to get involved and bring what he hopes will be a lifestyle-changing program to Columbus. “Columbus is the ideal community for the Be Well Fund research and development project funded by Microsoft,” Gingrich said. “As someone who grew up in Columbus, I know that it possesses the energy and civic cooperation to share important healthcare data that will benefit its citizens, families, caregivers, doctors and facilities.”
CHT Project Director Laura Linn is equally optimistic. “The Be Well Fund project has the potential to improve the health of the community’s seventh graders and to develop a model of health transformation for the nation,” she said. “This creative project will capture the imagination of the students participating and hopefully, instill healthier habits for a lifetime.”
Seventh graders were chosen as the focus of the program because they are likely to be receptive to group participation, but old enough to understand computers and be proficient in use of the Internet, according to program director Diane Griffin.
The Program
The Columbus Be Well program, funded
by a $249,000 grant from Microsoft’s
HealthVault Be Well Fund, is designed to
give awareness to childhood obesity and
provide a health and fitness program for
public school kids.
Developed by the Columbus Research Foundation, the program will use caloric intake, personal activity and an interactive map of the United States coupled with class competition to show students a healthier life style. Students will use websites as well as Microsoft’s HealthVault product to track progress in improving dietary habits and physical activity.
HealthVault is a free online service,
which allows for storage of health data from
many sources. Users can track exercise and
monitor health conditions at home with personal
devices, then use the data on websites
that connect with HealthVault.
In order to participate, parents and
guardians had to register their students.
In November, packages were sent to more
than 1,800 Muscogee County School
District seventh graders, explaining the program
and how to participate. Those who
signed up will receive an official Be Well
T-Shirt and pedometer at the kickoff rally
scheduled for January 17.
After the start up, each student will create an account and design an avatar to represent them. They will then record their daily meals and snacks which will make the avatar either shrink or grow depending on what was consumed that day. Students will go to a designated website to enter their steps. As the individual student progresses on his trip to Microsoft headquarters in Bellevue, Wash., he will receive prizes such as ball caps and water bottles. Once halfway to Microsoft, each will receive a pair of sneakers. The overall winners—the class reaching the state of Washington first—will receive a complete Wii for each student, and the school will get a cash prize.
Participating classes will see a computer-generated view on a map of where they are in the walk and what each place looks like. Mileage logged by each student is combined with the distance that other students in their class have walked. This makes the whole class move along the route to Washington state.
A mascot will encourage the students. The bee, outfitted with hiking gear, was named “Stinger” as the result of a competition among seventh graders. The winning students, Christina Gibson and Jontavius Miles of Eddy Middle School and Jennifer Holloway of Midland Middle School, each received $100.
The Reaction
The program was explained to all
students in individual school assemblies,
and Griffin said, the response was enthusiastic.
The co-president of the Muscogee
Council of PTAs is equally excited. “We
are very concerned about the obesity rate,”
said Susan Wood. “We are excited that this
program will get the whole family involved
and everybody walking.”
Veterans Memorial Middle School Principal Melanie Knight adds, not only are the students excited about the prizes, but the teachers are eager to get started as well. “They want to go out and walk. They are competitive themselves, so they want to be first to reach Microsoft,” she explained.
Attention to body image is so prevalent in the 12 to 13 age group, Knight says, that it is important that the students know they have personal control over their bodies through the choices they make. “All the grownups need to be reminded, too,” she laughed.
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