© 2024 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

State joins efforts to reduce childhood obesity

  Illinois is the latest state to join a national program aimed at reducing childhood obesity.  Gov. Bruce Rauner on Monday announced a new campaign from the National Foundation for Governors' Fitness Councils.  The program encourages educators to look for innovative ways to improve students' fitness and nutrition. Three schools will be selected as "National Champion Schools" and will win $100,000 fitness centers. The program and the fitness centers are funded through partnerships with companies such as Nike and Coca-Cola. It's already been rolled out in Arkansas, Texas and Florida. Rauner says Illinois has some of the highest childhood obesity rates in the nation. He says the program has had a "huge impact" in other states. The campaign's chairman is Jake Steinfeld, founder and CEO of Body By Jake Global.   
 

The Associated Press is one of the largest and most trusted sources of independent newsgathering, supplying a steady stream of news to its members, international subscribers and commercial customers. AP is neither privately owned nor government-funded; instead, it's a not-for-profit news cooperative owned by its American newspaper and broadcast members.