KidFit Campaign Targets parents and Students to Help Promote Healthy Lifestyles

     
Montgomery, AL -    Recent studies indicate that one out of every four children in Alabama is dangerously overweight as compared to one out of every ten nationally.  But that’s a statistic Alabama leaders have set out to change and the launch of a new program called KidFit is part of that program.
     At a news conference on Tuesday, Commissioner of Agriculture, Ron Sparks, and State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Joe Morton unveiled a new educational and informational program on nutrition and fitness called KidFit.  The KidFit informational packet consist of a half-hour long television program on DVD and an informational brochure.  Nearly 350,000 of the packets will be distributed to public school children in grades pre-K through fifth grades.
     The thirty-minute educational program also will air on commercial television stations on Saturday. February 24 and Saturday, March 3.  The time and station for the airings can be found at www.kidfitamerica.com.
     “KidFit is just one more segment of the program the State Board of Education authorized more than a year ago to help improve the level of nutrition and fitness among Alabama school children,” said Dr. Joe Morton.  “We’re convinced that KidFit will help get the message not only to children in our schools, but also to parents as well.”
     In 2004 and 2005 the Alabama State Department of Education formed a task force to examine the quality of nutrition in Alabama schools.  That task force has already instituted sweeping changes in the menus of Alabama’s school lunchrooms.  Commissioner Ron Sparks was a member of that Task Force.
     “I believe that improving the health of children is one of the most important things we can do for the future of Alabama.  Advocating better nutrition and fitness for our children is not simply the latest health fad, it is a very serious fight and the future health and prosperity of the next generation of Alabamians is at stake,” Sparks said.
     The KidFit video conveys a message aimed not only at children but intended for parents as well.  Country music start Randy Owen, of the group Alabama, and his wife Kelly, make appearances in the video and speak from their experiences as parents.
     KidFit was produced through the Corporate Foundation for Children and in cooperation of the Alabama Department of Education, The Alabama Commission of Agriculture and Industries, and the Alabama Department of Health.  The program is funded by grants from the Alabama Power Company Foundation and Alabama Power Company.

For photos, logos, cideo clips, and more information, please visit www.kidfitamerica.com.