4 Year Grassroots Effort to Address Childhood Obesity Begins in Chattanooga

Chattanooga will be one of 41-sites across the country to fight childhood obesity using a grassroots approach.

A $360,000 grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation will be used to address barriers that make kids inactive in the East Side and South Side communities.

Statistics show nearly 30& of residents living in those neighborhoods to be inactive.  The challenge proves greater for African American's, as 71% of them are overweight or obese.  STEP One Program Manager John Bilberback says "our measure and how I'm going to measure success is by the feedback in the community.  I don't care so much about the numbers as much as whether the kids are out using more playground equipment or are we able to get a new playground in somewhere."

The four-year program will focus on making environmental changes in East Side and South Side.

A community assessment with reveal if changes to recreation, transportation, and food will make it easier for families and children to live healthy.