Texas governor launches child obesity initiative
Texas Gov. Rick Perry is challenging his gubernatorial colleagues to join him in Framingham, Mass.-based Virgin HealthMiles’ Capitol Steps Challenge campaign against childhood obesity. As part of the challenge, Perry, along with the state’s executive agency leaders, will compete with other governors and their state leadership to see who can walk the most average steps per person in the first two weeks of the year.
The Capital Steps Challenge is part of a year-long awareness program on child obesity to which Virgin HealthMiles has pledged more than $6.3 million in donations. Alabama, Alaska, Florida, Idaho, Indiana, Kentucky, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia and Wisconsin have joined the challenge. “Across our nation, obesity rates are growing at an alarming rate, and the cost of treating obesity-related diseases and lost productivity amounts to an estimated $122.9 billion a year,” Perry said in a statement. “As governors, we must set the example for our states and highlight ways we can address preventable health problems.”
The challenge will begin on Jan. 1.
