Diabetes, heart disease, pain, and immobility are all potential consequences of one of today’s most prevalent, pervasive conditions: obesity. Increasingly, this danger is threatening our youth.
Since 1970, research has shown that the percentage of overweight kids and adolescents in the United States has more than doubled. We can do something about that, and that’s just what Intermountain Healthcare and SelectHealth are doing.
Two years ago, Intermountain introduced a public service campaign called LiVe that promotes childhood fitness and provides valuable information about obesity and healthy living. (A Spanish-language version is called ViVe.) The campaign uses a “kid-to-kid” approach, presenting the issue in a fun, engaging way. Through school assemblies, television and radio, printed materials, and a website, Intermountain is working to get the word out.
As in previous years, an acting troupe is touring elementary and middle schools performing the play LiVe—This Is Your Life. Last year, 75 schools viewed the play and more than 130 schools will see the play in the next two years.
Encouraging fitness through the LiVe campaign isn’t the only answer, but we want to do what we can to help communities, families, and kids prevent obesity. Because childhood should be about what kids can do, not defined by what they can’t.
Experience the LiVe Public Service Campaign
IntermountainLiVe.org
The interactive LiVe website uses a fun approach to help kids and teens make healthy choices, through helpful materials for parents and children, posters and brochures to download, creative ads, and fun games that teach kids about living a healthy lifestyle.
IntermountainViVe.org
In an expanded effort to reduce the obesity rate among children in our communities, the public service campaign has added ViVe, which is specifically developed for Utah's Hispanic community.