One Out of Five Virginia children 10-17 is Overweight

First of all, the numbers come from the children themselves, and they are significantly less than other contemporary surveys.

Remley:  This is great information to start with.

State Health Commissioner Dr. Karen Remley told the Childhood Obesity Conference in Richmond yesterday, asking children what they thought was an important step towards winning their trust.

Remley:  All of us can remember back to when we were thirteen and fourteen and being told what to do.

Dr. Remley says the state Health Department and the state Department of Agriculture are moving towards getting more fresh fruit in school programs and developing exercise programs that work.  But getting students to buy into it is important.

Remley:  It’s never as effective as coming up with those ideas and plans yourself.

She says the Department of Health and the Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth are talking with experts and developing plans, but then will take them back to the students.

Remley:  So we are going to the kids then, and saying, here’s the data, here’s some science that we can share with you.  What would you like to try in your school and how do we make that happen.

Charles Fishburne, WCVE News.