Connecting Youth Sports to Obesity Prevention
Alarming rates of childhood obesity in California are of increasing concern to health policymakers. Children and youth of color are already at particular risk of developing obesity and diabetes. Most policy solutions have focused on diet and nutrition rather than physical activity. Team-Up is in the process of collecting best practices, research and progressive policies to inform communities of successful strategies to combat the sedentary lifestyles of urban children and youth.
Team-Up organized a State policy hearing on childhood obesity on February 5, 2005 with the California State Assembly Health Committee to discuss the importance of physical activity for children. This hearing highlighted the role of after-school programs in increasing physical activity in low-income communities. Speakers included:
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Assemblymember Wilma Chan, Committee Chair
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Wally Haas, Chair, Team-Up for Youth
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Dave Kakishiba, Executive Director, East Bay Asian Youth Center
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Normandie Nigh, Executive Director, A World Fit for Kids!
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Janet King, PhD., Children’s Hospital Oakland Research Institute
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