Playground Helps Combat Childhood Obesity

Senator Mike Green acquires community partnership grant to provide $25,000 for purchasing playground equipment for Eisenhower Drive park. Primarily this investment provides an avenue to promote healthy lifestyles and wellness for area children. West Virginia ranked first in the nation in the prevalence of obesity (27.6%) and 42nd highest in the prevalence of overweight (36.1%) in 2002. As a State Senator, I look for ways to help our communities in Raleigh and Wyoming Counties. This grant not only provides benefits by promoting health and exercise, it gives young people recreation. Research shows children who are more physically fit tend to sleep better and can better handle physical and emotional challenges. This playground has another benefit, it functions as preventative medicine, therefore saving taxpayers money. It is estimated that the poor health behaviors of West Virginians inflate health care costs, causing them to reach almost $2 billion annually. Teaching wellness at an early age will hopefully change health trends for West Virginians and will save taxpayers dollars.

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News & Politics

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• WV
• West Virginia
• Senator Mike Green
• Childhood Obesity