greiBO media’s Ki-R7 Combats Childhood Obesity
(BALTIMORE – April 20, 2008) — Responding to the alarming increase in childhood obesity, a group of Baltimore-area businesses and nonprofits participated in the “Eat Right, Get Moving!” Summit, a free interactive event for families and their children to learn how to develop healthier eating and lifestyle habits. During the Summit, participants learned how to make a school garden, experienced a rock-climbing wall, new dance moves and how to make healthy inexpensive snacks. They also participated in free health screenings and workshops in the Wellness Café. All of this occurred at the Carmelo Anthony Youth Development Center at 1100 East Fayette Street in Historic East Baltimore.
Even more, greiBO media launched their own contribution to fight this insidious urban challenge. His name is Ki-R7. Ki-R7 is greiBO’s new mascot designed to bring further attention to childhood obesity and how to effectively combat the challenge. Full of energy and some wicked dance moves, Ki-R7 is apparently a hit with the little ones … and big ones too!
One-third of our nation’s young people are obese or overweight. Approximately 13 million children and adolescents are considered obese and nearly 25 million are either obese or overweight. 37% of Baltimore public high school students are overweight or at-risk compared to 29% of their counterparts in Maryland and the United States.
Unfortunately, the rate of childhood obesity is soaring, particularly in inner city communities. Nearly four out of every 10 Baltimore City public high school students are overweight or at risk. Obesity can prove fatal by triggering diabetes and heart disease.
“Our goal is to halt the rise of childhood obesity in Baltimore by identifying contributing factors and opportunities for increasing the availability of healthy, affordable foods and physical activity,” said Betsy Nelson, Executive Director of the Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers (ABAG).
The good news is that childhood obesity can be prevented.
Saturday’s “Eat Right! Get Moving!” Summit was hosted by Associated Black Charities of Maryland (ABC) and ABAG Association of Baltimore Area Grantmakers.
“This event highlighted how families, schools, the community and policy makers can begin to reverse the trend of childhood obesity for children and youth in Baltimore City,” said Diane Bell-McKoy, ABC’s President and Chief Executive.
Special invited guests included Dwayne Proctor of the Robert Woods Johnson Foundation (key funder of this initiative), Corey Bradford (older cousin to Baltimore's NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony), Congressman Elijah Cummings, and Baltimore City Councilwoman Agnes Welch.
Facts about the Childhood Obesity
Epidemic in Baltimore City
The Problem
One-third of our nation’s young people are obese or overweight.
Approximately 13 million children and adolescents are considered obese and nearly 25 million are either obese or overweight. 37% of Baltimore public high school students are overweight or at-risk compared to 29% of their counterparts in Maryland and the United States.
Childhood obesity rates are climbing fast.
During the past three decades, the obesity rate among children ages 2 to 5 has nearly tripled (from 5 to 14 percent).
During the past four decades, the obesity rate for children ages 6 to 11 has jumped almost fivefold (from 4 to 19 percent) and has more than tripled for adolescents ages 12 to 19 (from 5 to 17 percent).
According to a national study, overweight prevalence is rising more than twice as fast among African-American and Hispanic children than it is among white children.
The Causes
Young people now have more access to unhealthy foods than ever before and in larger portions, whether they’re eating at home, at school, or at a restaurant.
Children are not getting enough exercise.
Baltimore high school students are just over half as likely to attend physical education classes at least weekly than the national average for high school students and only a quarter meet currently recommended levels of physical activity compared to a third of high school students nationally. Additionally, adolescents living in high crime neighborhoods are significantly less likely to participate in moderate to vigorous physical activity than those in lower crime areas.
In many communities, families have few opportunities to make healthy choices.
Between 2000 and 2002, Baltimore City lost 15% of its supermarkets, further limiting healthy food choices to residents and increasing reliance on corner stores, which have limited healthy foods such as fruits and vegetables, whole wheat bread or skim milk. Additionally, the price of staples such as milk, cereal and bread is roughly 20% higher in corner stores.
The Consequences
Today’s young people may be the first generation in American history to live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generation.
Unless the epidemic is reversed, experts warn that obesity could reduce average life expectancy by five years over the next few decades.
Obesity costs billions in preventable medical expenses and lost productivity.
The annual cost of obesity in the United States is estimated at $117 billion in direct medical expenses and indirect costs, including lost productivity. Childhood obesity alone is estimated to cost $14 billion annually in health expenses.
Obesity is a major risk factor for many deadly diseases.
Obesity increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, stroke, heart disease, certain kinds of cancer, and many other debilitating diseases.
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