News: Coastal Health District to Host Training for National Institutes of Health We Can! Initiative to Prevent Childhood Obesity

January 21, 2010 - The Coastal Health District will host a regional training for We Can! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity & Nutrition) on Friday, January 29, at the CIA Sports Club in Brunswick. We Can! is a program created by the National Institutes of Health to promote healthy weight in children ages eight to 13 through improved food choices, increased physical activity, and reduced screen time.

"We Can! is a unique program that provides resources for communities to help them support better nutrition and increased activity to prevent childhood obesity," said Cristina Gibson, Director of Health Promotion and Disease Prevention for the Coastal Health District. "We are thrilled to offer this training to give organizations and community partners tools to help keep our young people healthy."

The event in Brunswick is the first of several We Can! trainings scheduled to be held across the United States. Training participants will learn more about We Can! curricula, share innovative ideas to help launch and strengthen We Can! programming, and network with others trying to prevent childhood obesity. The trainings are being sponsored in part by Subway® Restaurants FRESH FIT FOR KIDS.

"Childhood obesity is a growing problem not only in the Coastal Health District but all over the country," said Gibson. "The ultimate goal of We Can! is to help children maintain a healthy weight by promoting healthy eating, increased physical activity, and reducing the amount of recreational time spent in front of the television or computer."

We Can! is a fast-growing national movement of more than 1,200 registered organizations. Four Coastal Health District communities: Brunswick, Savannah, Pembroke, and Woodbine, have already been designated as We Can! cities.

More information on We Can! is available at http://wecan.nhlbi.nih.gov or by calling toll free 866-35-WE CAN (866-359-3226).

WWW Address: http://www.gachd.org/news/coastal_health_district_to_hos.php