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Special Focus:
Childhood
Obesity
United Way
makes an impact in the community by promoting health and
assisting people with physical, mental and developmental
disabilities. Services funded by United Way include physical
and speech therapy, dental care, and substance abuse education
for youth. United Way also makes possible support services for
people with cancer, HIV/AIDS and multiple sclerosis.
United Way
also has established FitFuture™ Tarrant County, an aggressive
communitywide effort to stop the epidemic of obesity and
overweight.
Two out of
three Tarrant County residents are overweight or obese. They
are at risk for serious health problems such as diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure and certain
cancers.
Founded in
2004, FitFuture™ Tarrant County now has many community
partners working in five key areas: business, faith-based,
governments, schools and health care. Working with other local organizations,
United Way
has
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Published a FitFuture™ plan, distributed to 2,000 community leaders, to
help schools, workplaces and other groups reduce obesity.
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Created a
Web site (www.fitfuture.org)
to raise public awareness about obesity and help groups
share wellness policies and fitness ideas.
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Funded a
fitness program for Arlington Independent School District
employees who lost 17,872 pounds and walked the combined
equivalent of 157 times across America in 19 months.
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Held two community-wide symposiums to raise public awareness
about obesity.
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Held a separate symposium to teach future doctors and nurses
how to
influence patients to adopt healthy lifestyles.
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Taught
families in a low-income Hispanic neighborhood the
importance of exercising and preparing nutritious meals.
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Surveyed
Tarrant County residents about their obesity, physical
exercise and nutrition habits.
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Taught
nutrition and exercise classes for seriously obese children,
reducing BMI (body mass index) and raising self-esteem.
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Encouraged
1,900 elementary school students in five Northeast Tarrant
County districts to exercise with important adults in their
lives.
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Formed the
Tarrant County School Health Advisory Council of 17 school
districts to share best practices in school health,
nutrition and physical exercise.
A community with a fit future: that's what matters.
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