On October 18, 2012 students at Garyville/Mt. Airy Magnet School were “digested” through the human body. More than 381 students toured the Louisiana Body Walk, a traveling exhibit that visits elementary schools throughout Louisiana. Through a hands-on approach, the Body Walk teaches children healthy habits, such as choosing nutritious foods, by showing them how their choices affect their body.

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. The Smart Bodies Program is entering its eighth year, and continues to travel to schools statewide through a joint effort by the LSU AgCenter and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation.

“Body Walk engages students by showing them how to be healthy. By being actively involved, students remember the behaviors and encourage others to be healthy as well,” said Cynthia Clifton, local LSU AgCenter agent.

The Body Walk features an eleven stop tour of the body including the brain, my plate, mouth, stomach, small intestine, heart, lungs, bones, muscles, skin and pathway for life stations.

“The children love the Body Walk because they learn how to make healthy lifestyle choices in a fun way. They learn what foods are good for them and how to be physically active,” said Cynthia Clifton, local LSU AgCenter agent. “We appreciate the support of our school 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 national 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 Cynthia Clifton at your parish LSU AgCenter Extension Office at 985-497-3261, or visit the Smart Bodies Web site.