Wisconsin is among 15 states given a $50,000 by the National 4-H Council and the Wal Mart Foundation for healthy living programs at the local level. 4-H Healthy Living Task Force member Ruth Litchfield says although healthy living includes social and emotional well being, as well as staying safe, the focus here is primarily on the issue of people being overweight and obese.
Litchfield says young people in the program are empowered to demand changes such as going to school boards or city council meetings to push for healthier foods in vending machine or increased physical activity in the schools.
In addition to be physically unhealthy, the registered dietician says obesity is fiscally unhealthy because of the high costs related to treating related diseases.
Eleven counties in the state will participate in the Wisconsin Youth Voice: Youth Choice for Healthy Living program which includes summer camps where kids teacher younger children about nutrition and fitness, afterschool clubs and community nutrition campaigns.
Brian Moon reports (:70)
