Causecast

Kern County has been identified in a national study as one of the worst areas in the country when it comes to child obesity.

A $400,000 grant is targeting the San Joaquin Valley to help children and teens maintain a healthier lifestyle.

The study also showed that one out of three children living in the Central Valley are considered overweight or obese.

Jennifer Lopez works for the Central California Regional Obesity prevention program (CCROPP).

She said our area was selected to receive a national grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation because of the need and, more importantly, because of the efforts of a local community based organization known as the Greenfield walking group.

“The group has now become a national model,” Lopez said. “The Robert Wood Johnson foundation did a national map of 350 approaches to this and decided to lift eleven to highlight and this was one of the eleven throughout the country and the only one in the state of California.”

This small group of women is attacking problems like obesity in children and adults by creating after school programs that focus on physical activity.

They even crated a walking path at Steirn Park by recruiting over 30 local families to help build it.

Janeth Patino, a member of the group said her daughter is overweight and at risk for becoming diabetic, which is why she chose to join.

“Her dad and family have diabetes and I don’t want her to be like that,” said Patino. “That’s why I encourage her to do exercises and eat healthy.”

The Grant will disburse $100,000 a year over the next four years to CCROPP.

Leaders from communities throughout the San Joaquin Valley will be trained to follow a curriculum based on creating health based projects in their area.

“This is really an opportunity to get neighbors to advocate. To increase their access to healthy food and safe places for their children to play,” said Lopez.

The new programs that will be used in various communities throughout the county have not been identified yet.

Public input is the next step in funding the programs that will hopefully help Kern County kids maintain a healthy lifestyle.