Learning healthy lifestyles. That’s the primary focus of the Louisiana Body Walk, a traveling exhibit that visits elementary schools throughout Louisiana. March 2-6, 2009, more than 1300 children from Carver Primary, Duplessis Primary, and St. Amant Primary took a firsthand look at how to make healthy choices and remain healthy throughout their lives.
The Louisiana Body Walk is one of three components of Smart Bodies, a comprehensive health program that provides nutrition education and promotes increased physical activity. This is the 4th year that Ascension youth have learned about the importance of good nutrition and physical fitness through an innovative program sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and the LSU AgCenter.
“Body Walk is a wonderful way for students to have fun learning about health, nutrition and physical activity,” said Sheri Fair, LSU AgCenter Agent in Ascension Parish. “Thus far, 9 of our parish Primary schools have presented the program to their students.”
Students had the opportunity to explore a walk-thro
ugh representation of the human body. At each of the Body Walk's ten stations, a volunteer presenter engages the students in a five-minute activity focused on healthy lifestyle choices such as eating nutritious food and getting plenty of exercise. The Body Walk features a nine-stop tour of the body including the brain, mouth, stomach, small intestine, heart, lungs, bones, muscles and skin.
“What’s great is that the kids are actively involved in learning about good nutrition and making healthful lifestyle choices,” said Mrs. Fair. “We appreciate the support of our school teachers, volunteers and the community organizations that assisted with the exhibit and made the Body Walk and the overall Smart Bodies Program possible.”
The Smart Bodies Program was developed to address increasing nation
al concerns about the lack of physical activity and the declining nutritional status of young children. In Louisiana, childhood obesity has doubled in the past 20 years, and almost one in three school-aged children is overweight or obese.
For information on the Smart Bodies Program and the Louisiana Body Walk, contact Sheri Fair at the Ascension parish LSU AgCenter Extension Office at 225-621-5799, or visit the Smart Bodies Web site at www.smartbodies.org.