Press Release
Flanked by staff and students from Concord Elementary School, health educators, and former NBA all-stars James Donaldson and Shawn Kemp, today Mayor Mike McGinn kicked off local efforts to fight childhood obesity. Seattle’s efforts are part of the national “Let’s Move!” campaign introduced in February 2010 by First Lady Michelle Obama to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity. The goal is to raise a healthier generation of kids and reverse the trend in childhood obesity within one generation.

CLICK ON PHOTO TO SEE SLIDESHOW

“In Seattle and across the United States, there has been a major shift in the way we eat and how active we are over the last two or three decades. The impact on our childrens’ health is alarming, including unacceptable disparities based on income and race,” McGinn said. “Nearly one quarter of Seattle youth in grades eight, 10 and 12 are overweight, with higher rates for Hispanic and African American youth. We must do better.”

McGinn said Seattle is working to:
Help Parents Make Healthy Family Choices through public health campaigns, programs and partnerships. A federal Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) grant is accelerating these efforts.

Create Healthy Schools by improving nutrition and increasing physical activity for 12,000 children and youth at childcare and afterschool programs, including at school sites throughout the city. This is another CPPW project.

· Provide Access to Healthy and Affordable Food by creating eight new P-Patch gardens in underserved areas of the city and expanding opportunities for urban agriculture. The P-Patch program will provide 30,000 pounds of fresh local produce to residents in need. A City-led Office of Economic Development/Public Health CPPW project is providing incentives, loans and technical assistance to corner stores and other food system businesses to increase access to healthy foods, particularly in low-income neighborhoods and near schools.

· Promote Physical Activity by launching his initiative Walk Bike Ride which encourages active forms of transportation, by playing basketball, joining in the local youth flag football league, helping coach ultimate Frisbee, and promoting active lifestyles in all Seattle neighborhoods. Seattle Parks and Recreation and Public Health Seattle-King County are undertaking multiple strategies to create an array of physical activity opportunities for children and youth.

Today’s event started with a visit to Marra Farm, which grows the type of healthy food kids need. After touring the farm, the mayor and Concord Elementary School students walked to the school, following a route arranged by “Feet First,” a local group focused on creating walkable communities and promoting Safe Routes to School.

Concord Elementary School is one of the most diverse elementary schools in the City –74 percent of the students receive free/reduced lunch, 55 percent are Hispanic, 15 percent are African American, 16 percent are Caucasian, 10 percent are Asian and 3 percent are American Indian. The school recently became and international, bilingual Spanish immersion school. There is a strong partnership with local community-based organization, SeaMar, which is committed to providing quality, comprehensive health and human services to diverse communities. Seattle Public Schools and Public Health – Seattle & King County are partners in the “Let’s Move!” effort.