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Making a Difference: United Healthcare, Konami Digital Entertainment and Boys and Girls Clubs of So. NV Fight Childhood Obesity
Over one third of children in the United States are considered overweight or obese according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This statistic presents itself in our own community with 34% of Nevada’s children considered such, leaving the state 17th for physical inactivity and 18th for obesity, according to UnitedHealth Foundation’s 2013 America’s Health Rankings. What can we do about this epidemic? First, similar to a new initiative recently launched at our local Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada, we can make exercising fun for kids and encourage them to involve friends in creating a healthy lifestyle.
UnitedHealthcare and Konami Digital Entertainment brought DanceDance Revolution: Classroom Edition (DDR CE) to the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada recently, where local youngsters will use the popular dance game to have fun and improve their fitness… at the same time (gasp!). Students will play the interactive video game, which combines physical activity with energetic music and visuals. The game enables dozens of students to participate simultaneously, creating friendly competition and fun using wireless mat controllers featuring a smart card reader that tracks each student’s individual progress. “It is important we continue the fight against obesity,” said CCSD Superintendent Pat Skorkowsky. “We need healthy, happy students in our schools so they can learn and be good citizens going forward.”
Childhood obesity has doubled in the last thirty years. In order to fight continued growth UnitedHealthcare, Konami Digital Entertainment and the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada partnered to create this new “exergaming” program. For more information on UnitedHealthcare visit www.uhc.com. For more on Konami Digital Entertainment visit www.konamigaming.com and for more on the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Nevada visit www.bgclv.com.
