Be a champion for a better life and a better future!!

I have been incredibly busy for the past few weeks. On top of exams and research, I also attended the 2011 Childhood Obesity Conference in San Diego. It was encouraging to see that childhood obesity is no longer viewed as an individual problem. If we do not make changes to how we lead our lives, children will have a shorter life expectancy compared to their parents. Children deserve a better future than what they are currently provided.

Look around your environment and you might find reasons why more children are considered obese; car-friendly neighborhoods are easy to find, whereas bike- friendly ones are not. There is also a lack of well lit or well connected sidewalks, encouraging families to drive. This is true in my neighborhood. However, thanks to the conference, I now have motivation to be the champion for change both in my life and in my community.

I believe that a societal change needs to occur in order to ensure the health of our children; seeing the changes that have taken place in Long Beach, California has been very encouraging. The city of Long Beach began its Grassroots movement because its residents demanded a better quality of life. By working together, they managed to change their city into an active community by experiencing their neighborhood on bicycles. As biking quickly became a new way of life for Long Beach residents, people became more connected not only with their neighborhood, but with each other. This shift towards creating a healthier environment has also been shown to improve the neighborhood’s commerce as local business owners began to see an increase in sales. I strongly believe that the revolution in Long Beach can occur in any city in the United States. Help yourself and the nation make a better future for our children.

Maria