Childhood obesity: It’s a problem that starts early and can lead to a lifetime of problems. All too often, the root causes are lack of knowledge about proper nutrition and lack of access to healthy alternatives. Backus Hospital’s Rx for Health program is changing that equation.
Funded by the Backus Annual Appeal, the program provides overweight kids with clinical assessments at United Community and Family Services and Generations Family Health Center. Guided by a registered dietician and area pediatricians, families receive nutritional education and $20 vouchers for fresh produce, eggs or healthy grains at local farmers’ markets. Next year, ShopRite supermarkets will join the partnership.
In its first year, more than 500 people got a healthy dose of information from Rx for Health, and last year alone, 85 families signed up for the program.
The word of mouth on healthy eating? “I love kale now,” reports one teen. “My family loves eggplant, squashes and leaf lettuce,” says a mom who learned how to enrich her recipes with nourishment. And parents celebrate the success of their son, diagnosed as obese at age 11, who’s lost nearly 100 pounds—the healthy way!
Hartford HealthCare Giving is connecting neighbors like these to healthier diets—and helping to short-circuit a problem that threatens their futures.
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