Colorado, U.S.A. — Experts agree childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions in the United States, with three in 10 U.S. kids either overweight or obese. Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) joined forces with notable Olympic athletes and youth leaders for the Triple Play Leadership Summit to provide a forum for young people to develop their own solutions for confronting the obesity crisis in their communities.

The Leadership Summit took place at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colorado and featured American boxer Marlen Esparza, who earned the Bronze Medal in Women’s Boxing at the 2012 Olympics. The weekend symposium focused on community action and engaged approximately 127 Boys & Girls Club kids and staff—representing 42 Clubs from around the U.S.—who were selected based on their commitment to enriching and improving their communities.

At the conclusion of the event, participating youth developed action plans for how they will combat obesity in their own communities by the end of the year. The young leaders will implement such activities as cleaning up parks, reforming school lunch menus and organizing walks and runs to help put other young people on a better path for healthy lifestyles.

“Like many challenges kids face today, the childhood obesity crisis can seem daunting because it has many factors and implications that extend far beyond this generation,” said Esparza. “It was invigorating to be surrounded by so many motivated kids who are taking ownership of this issue and proposing solutions that are developed by kids for kids. It gives me tremendous hope.”

The Triple Play Leadership Summit is a component of the BGCA Triple Play program, supported by founding sponsor Coca-Cola and the WellPoint Foundation, which encourages kids ages 6-18 to eat a balanced diet (mind), become more physically active (body) and increase their ability to engage in healthy relationships (soul).

“The Triple Play program is the premier healthy lifestyles initiative within our organization. The number of obese or overweight children today is more than three times what it was just a generation ago, so this effort is a key part of our commitment to addressing childhood obesity,” said Judith Pickens, Senior Vice President, Program & Youth Development Services, BGCA. “Through this Summit, we look forward to having hundreds of young people extend the Triple Play message and impact beyond Boys & Girls Clubs and into their surrounding communities.”

At the event, Boys & Girls Club kids participated in a mini-Olympic experience where they received hands-on tips from Olympians in a variety of sports. They also engaged in various training activities, including broadcast journalism, public relations and community service. All participants also took part in at least 60 minutes of exercise during their stay.

“Community health challenges are best met with a coordinated community response,” said Lance Chrisman, executive director of the WellPoint Foundation. “The WellPoint Foundation is proud to support Triple Play because we know that healthy habits can last a lifetime and that today’s youth are tomorrow’s leaders. We look forward to seeing the many outstanding local projects and health-improving efforts that will result from this Leadership Summit.”

“Physical activity and nutrition education are the most important, teachable components in health and wellness,” said Erika Von Heiland Strader, Director, Community Marketing, The Coca-Cola Company. “By supporting the Triple Play program and the Triple Play Leadership Summit, we are not only preparing the youth to live more active lives – we are preparing them for brighter futures.”

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Childhood obesity has been a rising problem for some time now, and most Americans are aware of the epidemic proportions that childhood obesity has reached. According to a new CNN report, however, this children’s health crisis is presenting whole new sets of challenges. CNN reveals that many children are outgrowing their clothing, and even the furniture used in their schools. According to Children of America CEO Thad Pryor, the CNN report points to a serious problem — and a possible solution.

In his time as the leader of Children of America, Thad Pryor has championed the cause of children’s fitness. One of his most noteworthy initiatives has been the implementation of a Presidential Fitness program, in Children of America locations across the country. According to Thad Pryor, the CNN study goes a long way toward illustrating why childhood obesity is such an urgent concern.

In fact, Thad Pryor points to one anecdote as particularly troubling. The CNN story reports that a 14-year-old boy, having reached a weight of more than 300 pounds, found himself no longer able to fit comfortably in his school desk. Rather than ask for the school to accommodate his physical need, however, the student suffered quietly, simply not wishing to draw attention to himself.

According to Thad Pryor, this public school incident reveals how bad the problem of childhood obesity has become, but it also reminds us of where a possible solution lies — in education. According to the Children of America CEO, teaching kids to make healthy choices from a young age might be one of the best ways to prevent obesity later in life. His own fitness initiatives at Children of America serve as a possible model.

Thad Pryor, a former martial arts champion, has emphasized the importance of physical fitness throughout his time at Children of America. He notes that physical development goes hand in hand with mental development, and that an emphasis on strong body-and-mind connection ultimately helps kids do better in their academic pursuits.

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The invention of the steam engine at the end of the 18th century was the beginning of evolution in transportation. This development allowed people to move heavier loads faster. A hundred years after, since the motor car was created, people were able to travel long distances without using a lot of effort.

By the end of 20th century, and continuing today, he computer is the main source of communication for the vast majority of people in the world. In last 10 years, the average growth of Internet usage in the world grew by 480 percent. This increase shows that people are becoming more addicted to online communication, and the need to physically interact with people has become limited.

The absence of the necessity to walk and do other physical activities in order to complete daily tasks is one of the leading causes of the most serious public health problems of the 21st century: obesity. Obesity is defined as a body having  excessive body fat, which causes health problem and reduces the life expectancy of a person.

Moreover, it increases the probability of having various diseases such as heart disease, certain types of cancer, and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is caused by many factors. One reason could be the person’s genes, which usually explains 25-40 percent of a person’s weight. The remaining percentage of your body condition comes from that person’s culture, way of life, and environment. 

With the development of technology and transportation, the cost of goods has decreased, and most people are able to afford junk food, which is sold everywhere. Moreover, there is no need to go to the grocery stores as often since fast food services, such as pizza deliveries, are readily available. Such services are becoming more popular, especially among the younger generation.

The problem of obesity is more global than we think. It was estimated that Americans spend more than $33 billion annually on weight loss. Additionally, the cost of health care to treat obesity is $120 billion. The World Health Organization predicts that there will be 2.3 billion people with weight problems by 2015, which is almost a quarter of the world’s population. At the present, nearly a third the US population is obese.

How people should deal with obesity problem?

First of all, a person who is obese must understand his/her own problem and consciously decide to deal with that issue. It was recommended to use a positive criticism in order to build self-confidence, which means that criticism must be seen as a way to correct oneself, but not as an irritating factor.

As soon as an obese person is certain about his/her situation, a balanced diet must be chosen. When the goal is to lose weight by decreasing the amount of food, the body should still get all essential nutritients, since it is vital for physical health and appearance. In addition, it is important to have a habit of counting calories.

Whenever food is bought, all the labels must be read to know how many calories the product contains. If extra calories were consumed, exercise can help balance it. In conclusion, it is necessary to avoid ignoring small things. If you already decided to have a diet and be healthy, it should last for as long as possible, and must not depend on any events, such as wedding or birthday party.

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