The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Announces $8 Million Initiative to Address Childhood Obesity

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The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida Announces $8 Million Initiative to Address Childhood Obesity
    JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 13 /PRNewswire/ -- The rate of childhood
obesity in America has more than tripled since 1980(1), and, in Florida,
32.5 percent of children ages 10 to 17 are overweight or obese(2).
Compelled by the serious and widespread threat of the obesity epidemic for
children, families, communities and the health care system, The Blue
Foundation for a Healthy Florida (http://www.bluefoundationfl.com), the
philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF),
today announced a statewide initiative called Embrace a Healthy Florida.

    The $8 million, four-year strategic effort will address the causes of
childhood obesity through public-private partnerships. Embrace a Healthy
Florida was announced during a convening of Jacksonville community
nonprofit, nongovernmental agencies, governmental agencies, and leaders who
are currently engaged in activities that address childhood obesity.

    "We are taking action beyond traditional nutrition and fitness
programs," said Susan Towler, executive director of The Blue Foundation for
a Healthy Florida. "Through strategic philanthropy, Embrace a Healthy
Florida will foster environments that promote healthy lifestyles for
children."

    The statewide initiative will support community-based programs that
promote change in families and parenting, childcare centers and schools,
neighborhood recreation opportunities and other influences on the
accessibility of healthy food and physical activity. Focusing on
Jacksonville, Miami, Orlando, Tampa and Tallahassee regions, the
three-phase effort will provide grants to nonprofit organizations, fund
research, and foster community collaboration.

    Along with numerous physical health risks, overweight and obese
children are shown to suffer higher rates of depression, greater difficulty
in peer relationships and poorer quality of life than their normal weight
counterparts(3).

    "Instead of several segmented strategies, Embrace a Healthy Florida
brings together resources from numerous factions," said Towler. "This
enables the initiative to become one unified effort working together to
combat childhood obesity."

    The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is a nonprofit, private
foundation established by BCBSF in 2001. Through strategic philanthropy,
The Blue Foundation supports community-based solutions that enhance access
to quality health-related services for Floridians, particularly the
uninsured and underserved.

    The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida is a separate, philanthropic
affiliate of BCBSF incorporated in the state of Florida. The Blue
Foundation for a Healthy Florida, and its parent, BCBSF, are independent
licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of
independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information on
The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, please visit its Web site at
http://www.bluefoundationfl.com.



    (1) Sorter, A (2006). A Weighty Issue: Childhood Obesity. Retrieved
        April 30, 2008, from Florida Medical Center Web site:
     http://floridamedicalctr.staywellsolutionsonline.com/RelatedItems/1,2233.
    (2) National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality.
    (3) Action for Healthy Kids, The Learning Connection: The Value of
        Improving Nutrition and Physical Activity
        in Our Schools, 2004 (http://www.ActionForHealthyKids.org [July 7, 2005]).
SOURCE The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida
http://www.bluefoundationfl.com
CONTACT:
Bruce Middlebrooks, The Blue Foundation for a
Healthy Florida, +1-904-905-3400