What some say is a major epidemic facing our country and state. Georgia ranks third highest in the nation for childhood obesity, according to the "F as in Fat 2009" study from Trust for America's Health. It's a statistic that has many worried about the future of our children.
Thirty-seven percent of Georgia children are overweight or obese, and 28% of Georgia adults are obese, putting Georgia at 14th in the nation for adult obesity.
Obesity is a huge concern in Bulloch County -- it ranks near the bottom of Georgia's 159 counties as worst in obesity. That's why The Bulloch County Children's Health Improvement and Lifestyle Development Coalition, or CHILD, was formed by Georgia Southern University and the Bulloch County Health Department to try and teach its children and families how to be healthier.
"We see at the health department infants all the way to older adults and noticed in our community that obesity was a problem," said Cindy Hart, nurse manager at the Bulloch County Health Department.
Dr. Fred Whitt, Dean of Georgia Southern University's School of Health and Human Services, said the issue prompted the formation of the coalition with the community.
"What we wanted to do was pull together the expertise of the faculty in the college in the areas such as nursing, exercise science, sports management, recreation, child and family development, community health, all into a coalition," he said.
CHILD Program Director Donna Whitt says the health issues from obesity in children are growing at an alarming rate.
"We're seeing a lot of disease processes at a much earlier age than we ever have before. We're seeing children as young as in third grade with high blood pressure. We are seeing children develop type 2 diabetes," she said.
Dr. Barry Joyner, head of the Department of Health and Kinesiology at the College of Health and Human Services, is helping to lead research efforts and says environment plays a large part in the problem.
"The research is pretty clear is that you have to involve everybody. You have to involve the family. You have to involve all parts of the community for it to be an effective initiative and so that's what we want to do," said Joyner.
The Bulloch County CHILD Coalition is working to get the word out through education in schools, workplaces, and civic organizations.
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