Embrace a Healthy Florida Pumps Up Studies on Childho...( JACKSONVILLE Fla. Feb. 4 /- The g...),Health

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Feb. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida, the philanthropic affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida (BCBSF), recently approved $499,418 for grants that will fund further study of the childhood obesity epidemic's impact on children and health care in Florida. Applied research will test programs that emphasize nutrition and physical activity.

The grants are part of The Blue Foundation's ongoing initiative, Embrace a Healthy Florida, to foster public-private partnerships that create optimal conditions for children to be healthy. The initiative was launched in May 2008, and the first grants were awarded to nine organizations in October 2008.

Recipients, grant totals and program areas funded are:

• Nemours Health and Prevention Services -- $100,000 -- engage child care centers in Orlando to teach healthy eating and active lifestyles using a successful curriculum to 3- to 5-year-olds.
• Hebni Nutrition Consultants -- $100,000 -- study efforts to mobilize the Parramore neighborhood of Orlando and surrounding community schools, churches and child care organizations to learn and practice healthy nutrition. Special attention will be placed on work with grocers and restaurants to offer consumers nutritional foods and meal options.
• University of South Florida, Division of Sponsored Research -- $100,000 -- examine 2003-2008 data about the impact of obesity on children, youth and families as well as health care costs. Report the findings in a second-edition "Child Health and Healthcare Quality in Florida: A Chartbook" that will inform state policymakers and decision-makers about the scope of the obesity epidemic and its impact on children and health care costs
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