February 2, 2009
FIRST LADY MICHELLE PAIGE PATERSON LAUNCHES STATEWIDE TOUR TO KICK-OFF “HEALTHY STEPS TO ALBANY: FIRST LADY’S CHALLENGE”
Brings Message of Exercise and Healthy Eating to Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Yonkers
First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson today launched her statewide tour for “Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge,” the health and wellness initiative she created to combat childhood obesity in New York State. The First Lady will visit students in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany and Yonkers to encourage them to participate in the fitness program, as well as make physical activity and nutrition a part of their lifestyles. The first stops will be in Buffalo at PS 192 Buffalo Academy of Visual and Performing Arts and PS 91 B.U.I.L.D. Academy.
“Childhood obesity is an epidemic that is threatening our families’ long-term health,” First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson said. “Despite the incredible medical breakthroughs of the past few decades, our children are part of the first generation of kids who may have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. We have seen an increase in the rates of obesity-related illnesses, including diabetes and cardiovascular disease. We, as parents, educators and community leaders, must promote healthy activity, eating and living so that our children can lead long, healthy and active lives.”
“Exercise and nutrition not only improve physical health, but also affect how our children perform in school,” the First Lady added. “Poor nutritional status and hunger interfere with cognitive function and are associated with lower academic achievement. Healthy students are four times more likely to do better in school than obese students. These problems are preventable, and must be addressed by our schools, our communities and our government.”
“Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge” is a six-week fitness program geared toward middle school students in 6th, 7th, and 8th grades. Participating classrooms represent a team, and student team-members log their minutes of activity on-line. Students will use the “Healthy Steps” website to convert various exercises into steps and class-teams track their step progress on a map that highlights fun facts about New York State. The teams that log the most steps will be rewarded with a luncheon hosted by the Governor and First Lady, a trip to a local organic farm, and other prizes.
Obesity is a statewide epidemic and 56.7 percent of New York’s adult population has a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 25 of more, qualifying as overweight or obese. The First Lady’s tour makes stops in counties with similarly high rates: Erie County with 57.5 percent; Monroe County with 59.3 percent; Onondaga County with 59.5 percent; Albany County with 54 percent; and Westchester County with 53.6 percent.
The First Lady’s tour visits the cities that will host the 2009 “Healthy Steps to Albany: First Lady’s Challenge” pilot program.
The tour includes:
PS 192 Buffalo Academy for Visual and Performing Arts
PS 91 B.U.I.L.D. Academy
February 3, 2009: Rochester
Pinnacle School No. 35
School Without Walls
February 4, 2009: Albany
North Albany Academy
Stephen and Harriet Myers Middle School
February 5, 2009: Syracuse
Lincoln Middle School
John T. Roberts School
February 9, 2009: Yonkers
Montessori School 11
Scholastic Academy for Academic Success
For more information on the First Lady’s initiative, please visit: http://www.healthystepstoalbany.ny.gov.
