The American Cancer Society is helping to prevent child obesity in Southern Illinois.
The Cancer Society has awarded a number of obesity prevention community grants including one to the Egyptian Health Department to start a CATCH program. CATCH stands for Coordinated Approach To Child Health. Phylis Wood is the CATCH Director for the Egyptian Health Department. She says the grant will help start programs in Hardin and Pope County Schools. She says Physical inactivity and poor nutrition is becoming one of the biggest risk factor for youth following smoking.
Along with the grant, the agency will receive staff training, lesson plans and physical activity equipment like balls, hula hoops and bean bags.
