County-wide campaign launching to promote healthier lifestyles

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Florida Department of Health says that one in three Florida students are considered overweight or obese. However, the FDOH is aiming to lower that statistic.

Childhood obesity has doubled in the last 30 years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. More than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese by 2012.

A Florida house panel voted unanimously Tuesday for a bill that requires elementary schools to set aside 20 minutes each day for free recess. Schools would not be allowed to take away recess as a punishment for behavior or academic reasons.

The FDOH-Duval County and the Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition launched a county-wide campaign Wednesday aimed at fighting childhood obesity.

“This is the day that we change the history of our community forever,” said Dr. Kelli Wells, director of Florida Department of Health In Duval County.

Community leaders will take a 5-2-1-0 Pledge on Tuesday to live a healthy lifestyle by following four easy practices: eating five servings of fruits and vegetables; limiting recreational screen time to two hours daily; getting at least one hour of physical activity daily; and no sugary drinks.

“No one is going to argue that our kids don't need physical activity. The challenge is how do you do that in the confines of the schedule, especially with these new standards?” said Duval County School Superintendent Dr. Nikolai Vitti.

It is a question the district would have to figure out.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry is at the state legislative session in Tallahassee, but he made his pledge. The group hopes to have 10,000 pledges by the end of the year.

Right now, the Duval County School District is only meeting the minimum requirement for physical activity in the schools, at 150 minutes per day.

Cox Media Group