UNCW Faculty Heed Call to Fight Trend of Childhood Obesity
4/23/2004 12:00:00 AM
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Wilmington, N.C. - The faculty at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington's Health and Applied Human Sciences Department are determined to combat the trend of obese children. Even with a number of organizations suggesting a minimum of 60 minutes daily activity requirement for children as well as the importance of a healthy diet and physical activity in a child's life childhood obesity concerns are not decreasing. The following UNCW faculty members are specifically responding to the national call to action to combat this unhealthy national trend and would be available to comment to the media about their areas of expertise:
Darwin Dennison, professor of health education, received $1.1 million from the American Cancer Society to increase the frequency of daily fruit and vegetable servings for children in rural North Carolina. This effort will attempt to reduce the risks of cancer, obesity and the onset of type-II diabetes, all of which are caused by over eating and poor food selection.
Sue Combs, associate professor of physical education, who, in partnership with the Cape Fear Center for Inquiry (CFCI), a Wilmington charter school, received $122,323 from the Carol M. White Physical Education for Progress (PEP) grant. The funds will be allocated for the training of all CFCI teachers. This initiative will attempt to renew an interest in a physical education curriculum that has been "seriously compromised," according to Combs.
Debbie Dowd, associate professor of physical education, assists Combs and a local chapter of Girls on the Run Inc., to train at-risk girls for a five kilometer run. The training program aims to improve self esteem in addition to increasing activity for the girls. Dowd and Combs are also taking part in Boys in the Lead, a similar program based in Wilmington.
Dan Johnson and Candace Ashton, both associate professors on the therapeutic recreation (TR) faculty, address the physical activity demands and limits of children with physical disabilities. TR students at UNCW are working with children who have developmental disabilities in order to enable them to participate on a conventional swim team. TR students have also been included in the organization of Accessible Recreation Day at UNCW.
Melody Kyzer, assistant professor in the department of health education, assists students in health education and exercise science to focus on the skills that will be required to design, implement and evaluate community programs in support of youth activities. "It makes no sense to tell a kid to ride his/her bike to the park if there are no sidewalks or bike paths to get them there," Kyzer said.
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MEDIA CONTACT: Mimi Cunningham, university relations, 910/962-3171 or e-mail cunninghamm@uncw.edu. David Miller, interim chair of the Department of Health and Applied Human Sciences, at 910/962.3250 or e-mail millerdk@uncw.edu.
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