Anniston students cheer for Vitamin C in anti-obesity drive
ANNISTON, Ala. Constantine Elementary School students in Anniston are cheering for Vitamin C.
When Charity Richey-Bentley asked what nutrients oranges provide to the body, the 150 students shouted: "Vitamin C!"
Richey-Bentley's quizzing of the students was part of the "For Your Life!" program provided by the West Anniston Foundation to educate children about obesity.
The 45-minute program recently involved the entire student body and featured a rap by the fifth-graders, a mock classroom activity, and dancing teachers.
Richey-Bentley, the foundation's executive director, says she knew if they went to the students with only statistics they would lose them.
This program names several forms of exercise including dancing, which was demonstrated by two teachers to the applause and cheers of the students.
Fifth-grader Iesha Hasberry said the assembly was much more fun than she had expected. saying: "I expected mean, strict teachers telling us what not to eat."
For some, the program completely changed their opinions of sugary snacks and sodas.
Fifth-grader Levi Thompson says: "The lady was over there telling how much sugar went in to our bodies. I'm going to lay sweets aside and eat stuff that's good for your body."
This is exactly the message Richey-Bentley said she wanted to send.
Alabama is the nation's "second heaviest state," she says.
Only Mississippi has a higher obesity rate.
Cindy Templeton a registered dietitian with Alabama Public Health Area 6, the region that includes Calhoun County, says it's at epidemic levels now.
The Alabama Department of Health's Web site says about 23 percent of adults in Calhoun County are obese.
According to the site, higher levels of income and education usually mean lower levels of obesity.
Templeton says the increase in obesity stems from children spending hours in front of television and computer screens and parents feeding their children more fast food than in years past.
"They're just not making healthy decisions," Templeton says.
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