Children's Nutrition and Fitness Research "Camp" is Underway

The ICIR is currently in its second week of a children's nutrition and fitness research "camp" intended to collect data on media-related precursors to childhood obesity and to educate children on how to live a healthy lifestyle.  Based on the pilot data from this camp, the ICIR plans to develop a research plan to help identify the factors that are most likely to contribute to a child's likelihood to become obese.  Childhood obesity is a growing concern in the United States, with 17% of all children aged 2 years to 18 years old being considered "obese" (CDC, 2009).  Recent data has indicated that adult obesity in the state of Alabama is 32.2%, meaning that nearly one out of every three adults is obese (CDC, 2011).

News Coverage for Nutrition Camp

The ICIR’s Nutrition and Fitness Camp has kicked off.  This project hopes to collect data about precursors to childhood obesity and the impact the media may have on obesity.  Children play Wii Fit games, discuss the importance of health, and give valuable insight into the role of advertising in food choices.  

The Nutrition Camp has been covered several times by both Fox 6 in Birmingham, AL and WVUA-TV in Tuscaloosa, AL.