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MILLVILLE, Cache County -- Utah has one of the lowest obesity rates in the nation; but even at 23 percent, that's not a number to celebrate.
United Healthcare of Utah recently gave Millville Elementary School students a $1,000 grant to fight obesity in their community. They plan to use the money to help others become physically fit.
21.5% of Utah elementary school students and 20.4% of Utah high school students are overweight or obese. -Utah Dept. of Health
Abraham Gamez, a student at the school, says sometimes people make fun of his weight. He says some people call him fat and "mentally challenged." They tell him he has "no brains."
"When you start obese at your age, you're just more likely to develop chronic illness than an adult that becomes obese later on in life," United Healthcare's Pam Gold told the students.
One in three Utah kids, ages 10 to 17, is obese. That's according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The department also says obese kids are twice as likely to die before they reach age 55.
With the grant money they received, the students at Millville Elementary have decided to put on a health fair to teach their community how to stay fit and eat healthy.
If you ask Sarai Hernandez, that last part can be a challenge for young taste buds. "When you try food, you probably think it's not good. But then you try it, and then you say it's good," she explained.
Obese kids are twice as likely to die from a disease before the age of 55. -New England Journal of Medicine
After-school program director Katie Pickett says these activities empower kids to make healthy lifestyle choices for themselves. "Their family might not choose to eat healthy, but they can choose to eat healthy at school. They can choose to get out and exercise. They can make choices on their own," she said.
Caleb Swartz said his dad lets him use the home gym in his "man cave."
"I go up there and I work out all night. And after I get done, my arms and legs feel tired, but that's because you've been working out," Caleb explained.
Educators say a program like this really serves two purposes. A lot of the students are latchkey kids, so they'd be home alone anyway. Instead, they are able to get together after school and get help with their homework and learn about physical fitness.
Experts say the good news is unlike a terminal illness, obesity is preventable and reversible.
The Millville Elementary School students will hold their Health Fair next week.
Email: niyamba@ksl.com
