Georgia Public Broadcasting will televise “Georgia Weighs In: A Childhood Obesity Special” at 8 p.m. Thursday. The broadcast is part of GPB’s “Happy Healthy Kids” initiative in partnership with the Aetna Foundation. The initiative seeks to raise awareness about the dangers of childhood obesity and provide resources for prevention.
Obesity has become an epidemic among children and adolescents in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control, obese children and adolescents are at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. According to the 2007 youth risk behavior survey, 18 percent of Georgia youth, grades 9-12, are overweight and another 14 percent are obese.
“Georgia Weighs In” host Susan Hoffman will talk with experts about nutrition, exercise, genetics and the psychological issues that affect children who struggle with issues of weight. Experts featured in the special include Jim Annesi, Ph.D, of the Atlanta YMCA; Dr. Seema Csukas of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Pamela Green of Youth Becoming Healthy; Ms. Christi Kay of HealthMPowers; Dr. Rodney Lyn of Georgia State University, and Natalie Rogers, a nutrition advocacy specialist for Georgia PTA.
During the live broadcast, Georgia Department of Community Health experts will be on hand to staff a phone bank and a live Internet chat. To learn more about the special and take part in the live stream and Web chat, log on to www.gpb.org/childhood-obesity. The site also has links to health organizations in Georgia with additional resources.
You can watch the special on WVAN/channel 9 out of Savannah.
Obesity has become an epidemic among children and adolescents in America. According to the Centers for Disease Control, obese children and adolescents are at risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes. Obese children are more likely to become obese adults. According to the 2007 youth risk behavior survey, 18 percent of Georgia youth, grades 9-12, are overweight and another 14 percent are obese.
“Georgia Weighs In” host Susan Hoffman will talk with experts about nutrition, exercise, genetics and the psychological issues that affect children who struggle with issues of weight. Experts featured in the special include Jim Annesi, Ph.D, of the Atlanta YMCA; Dr. Seema Csukas of Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta; Pamela Green of Youth Becoming Healthy; Ms. Christi Kay of HealthMPowers; Dr. Rodney Lyn of Georgia State University, and Natalie Rogers, a nutrition advocacy specialist for Georgia PTA.
During the live broadcast, Georgia Department of Community Health experts will be on hand to staff a phone bank and a live Internet chat. To learn more about the special and take part in the live stream and Web chat, log on to www.gpb.org/childhood-obesity. The site also has links to health organizations in Georgia with additional resources.
You can watch the special on WVAN/channel 9 out of Savannah.