Politics & Government
County Health Officials, Main Street Stone Mountain Fight Childhood Obesity
In separate efforts, both entities hope to get adults and children more active. Granite Grasshopper 5k Road Race and Fun Run is Oct. 8.
Obesity in Georgia is increasing at an alarming rate according to reports from the State of Georgia’s Department of Health, and statistics in DeKalb County illustrate part of the problem.
According to the DeKalb County Board of Health, more than half of all DeKalb County adults and 65 percent of public school students do not get enough exercise.
“Thirteen percent of high school students in DeKalb County are obese and 24 percent of adults are obese," said Elizabeth Ford, director of the county’s Board of Health. Ford also reported that the 30345 zip code area has the highest percentage of childhood obesity.
Find out what's happening in Stone Mountain-Lithoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
In an effort to tackle the obesity problem, the county’s health department will use a $2.6 million grant that it recently received from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop a plan to combat obesity.
“Our focus is [to find] intervention-related policies that will make a better environment and reduce obesity," said Latricia Hughes, media specialist for the Board of Health.
Find out what's happening in Stone Mountain-Lithoniawith free, real-time updates from Patch.
Hughes explained that the obesity initiative has 11 components including a Master Active Living Plan that would directly deal with childhood obesity.
“The plan includes a Farm to School program where schools can grow gardens and have fresh foods for lunch. It also would include a Safe Routes to School program," Hughes said. Safe Routes to School is a federally-funded program designed to encourage communities to make walking and bicycling to school a safe, regular activity.
Main Street Stone Mountain has come up with ways to do its part to fight the problem, and help financially support three schools in the process.
It is sponsoring its first annual Granite Grasshopper 5k Road Race & Fun Run on October 8 in historic Stone Mountain Village.
Funds will support Main Street Stone Mountain Village, Stone Mountain Elementary, and .
“We want to work with the local schools to fight obesity so we came up with this race," said Kim Delaney, race organizer and executive director of Main Street Stone Mountain (MSSM).
She said there are about 75 people registered for the race so far, and there will be trophies for the top three finishers in each age category.
Delaney encourages everybody to get involved. “We have a one mile fun run," said Delaney. “There’s no excuse. You can do the mile. Use it as a way to get started.”