More than one in five children are struggling with obesity today. We have an opportunity to make a change! As Mrs. Oregon America 2013, I started a non-profit called Moving Oregon.  Moving Oregon hosts free healthy kid’s days and health fairs all over the state to promote nutrition and fun fitness. We call our events Movin’ It with Mrs. Oregon America 2013. 

Healthy Kids Day & Health Fairs include:

• A kid centered show where skits, videos, and games get kids engaged in learning about health.
• Exercise blasts to get kids movin’! The exercise sessions will incorporate kid centric fitness activities that are fun and engaging!
• Free raffle give away of activity based prizes to excite kids about being active.
• Free healthy snack bar showing kids how to make nutritious choices life. The kids will choose from an assortment of tasty, balance options provided by sponsors.
• A jump rope demonstration from The American Heart Association Jump Rope for Heart Team.
• Booths from community health sponsors providing information, samples and resources for families and individuals looking to create a lasting healthy lifestyle.

To learn more about our cause visit our website www.movingoregon.org, or come check out and ‘like” our Facebook page. I invite you to join us on this journey of changing the lives of youth in Oregon.

Oregon’s biggest challenge: A large percentage of Americans are overfed and undernourished in many basic nutrients. Sadly we are looking at a first generation of kids facing a shorter lifespan than their parents. According to the CDC in Oregon:

• 17.7% of children 2-5 years old are overweight. (85th to < 95th percentile BMI-for-Age)
• 15.1% are obese. (≥ 95th percentile BMI-for-Age)

Other staggering statistics include:

•  More than one in five Oregon youth are overweight or obese putting them at risk for many preventable health conditions.
• 24.3 percent of Oregon kids are overweight.

If the current health of the children of Oregon is a forecast for the future health of our state, we are in trouble. We know that 80% of overweight children become overweight adults that are at risk for many avoidable health conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and the list goes on. 

A Call To Action: Children are our future. As parents, teachers, businesses owners, state leaders, healthcare workers, and other role models for kids it’s our job to teach them about healthy habits! If you want to get involved in this cause email me at…

movingoregon@gmail.com

In health,

Tara Arnold, RN

Mrs. Oregon America 2013