Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona's Walk On! Program Challenges Kids to Get Moving.Approx. 33,000 Fifth-Graders from More Than 360 Arizona Schools to Participate PHOENIX -- Obesity is one of the biggest threats to our nation's population1, and it's affecting youth in record proportions. In fact, the rate of obesity among American kids has tripled during the past 25 years2, and today an astounding a·stound tr.v. a·stound·ed, a·stound·ing, a·stounds To astonish and bewilder. See Synonyms at surprise. [From Middle English astoned, past participle of astonen, one in three children is either overweight or at risk for becoming overweight3. To combat the growing incidence of childhood obesity childhood obesity Public health Overweight in a child, an average BMI of ≥ 85% for age and sex; ≥ 95% for age and sex is very obese. See Body-mass index, Obesity. Cf Adult obesity. in Arizona, and to motivate youth to incorporate exercise into their daily routines, Blue Cross Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. of Arizona (BCBSAZ BCBSAZ Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona ) will challenge fifth-graders across the state to walk 10,000 steps each day in February. During this month-long Walk On!(sm) Challenge, students track their progress with pedometers provided by BCBSAZ, and report their walking totals. The school with the highest percentage of successful participants receives a $2,500 grant toward a future fitness-oriented activity. Approximately 33,000 fifth-graders from more than 360 elementary schools elementary school: see school. throughout the state will participate in this year's Challenge. (For a complete listing of participating schools, see http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=5312666.) In addition, Gov. Janet Napolitano Janet Napolitano (b. November 29, 1957) is the current governor of the U.S. state of Arizona, originally elected in 2002, and re-elected in 2006. She is Arizona's third female governor, and the first female to win re-election. will declare Feb. 1, the day the Challenge officially begins, as Walk On! Day. "Encouraging children at a young age to be active is so important," said Gov. Napolitano. "When children take part in this type of program, they learn that performing even simple exercise, such as walking, is beneficial to their health and state of mind. When children are healthy, they are better prepared to learn and succeed in school." BCBSAZ will introduce Walk On! Challenge components to fifth-graders this month at five local elementary schools, including: Guerrero Elementary in Mesa (9:30 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 24); Hale Elementary in Mesa (10:45 a.m. on Wed., Jan. 24); W.F. Killip Elementary in Flagstaff Flagstaff, city (1990 pop. 45,857), seat of Coconino co., N Ariz., near the San Francisco Peaks; inc. 1894. Lumbering, ranching, and a lively tourist trade thrive in the region, where many ruined pueblos, numerous state parks, several lakes, and large pine forests (9 a.m. on Fri., Jan. 26); Grijalva Elementary in Tucson (10 a.m. on Tues., Jan. 30); and Carrillo Intermediate Magnet School magnet school n. A public school offering a specialized curriculum, often with high academic standards, to a student body representing a cross section of the community. in Tucson (11:30 a.m. on Tues., Jan. 30). "Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona cares about Arizona's children," said Gary Smethers, M.D., Chief Medical Officer of BCBSAZ. "That's why we developed the Walk On! program. It's a positive first step in helping to reduce the incidence of obesity in Arizona. And we know this program is resonating res·o·nate v. res·o·nat·ed, res·o·nat·ing, res·o·nates v.intr. 1. To exhibit or produce resonance or resonant effects. 2. in elementary schools because participation in the Walk On! Challenge has increased more than 65 percent since last year." Walk On! participants attribute much of the Challenge's success to teacher involvement. "From organized recess activities to curriculum-based math projects, teachers have really stepped up to encourage their students to reach the month-long goal," said Kim Babeu, Assistant Principal of Rincon High School in Tucson, and former Arizona Teacher of the Year. Another incentive for participating fifth-graders is the opportunity to win one of 10 iPod([R]) nanos. Those who complete all 10,000 steps every day during the month of February will be eligible to win a nano (1) Billionth (10 to the -9th power). See space/time. (2) Refers to the nanotech industry in general. See nanotechnology. (3) See iPod nano. . "Hosting the Walk On! Challenge in February is just one step toward tackling the issue of childhood obesity in Arizona," said Smethers. "To continue momentum, we've provided additional curriculum-based resources so that K-8 educators can utilize the Walk On! program in their classrooms year-round." For more information about Walk On!, visit azblue.com/walkon, or call (602) 864-5236 or (800) 528-0716, ext. 5236. About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ), an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
About Walk On! BCBSAZ launched Walk On! in February 2006 to help combat childhood obesity and get Arizona youth moving. Walk On! is an educational program designed to motivate kids across Arizona to incorporate exercise into their daily routines. In 2006, more than 3,300 fifth-grade students completed the month-long Walk On! Challenge, walking a combined total of 1.2 billion steps - equal to more than 618,000 miles. Educators in grades K-8 can visit the Walk On! Web site for tips on how to integrate the program into their classrooms. For more information, visit azblue.com/walkon. 1 According to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. the U.S. National Institutes of Health. www.nia.nih.gov/NewsAndEvents/PressReleases/PR20050316Obesity.htm 2 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), agency of the U.S. Public Health Service since 1973, with headquarters in Atlanta; it was established in 1946 as the Communicable Disease Center. . http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/ 3 According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/02news/obesityonrise.htm |
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