Skip to Content, Navigation, or Footer.
We inform. You decide.
Thursday, March 28, 2024

Organization combats obesity within Alachua County

health

Eunshil McKenna, a licensed dietician and food and nutrition supervisor of Alachua County Public Schools, provides free nutrition advice to parents and families at the Nutrition Education Family Event at the Straughn Center on Saturday.

About 84 people received trivia facts, healthy-cooking demonstrations and advice from a Gainesville-licensed dietitian Saturday.

In Alachua County, more than 28 percent of school-age children and more than 56 percent of adults are either overweight or obese, according to a report from Healthiest Weight Florida.

With America’s obesity rates in mind, the Multidisciplinary Academic-Community Obesity Disparities Research Partnership hosted the event at the Straughn IFAS Extension Professional Development Center.

“This is the first seminar planned by the MACOD-R seminars committee that was targeting families and children in the community,” said Manal Alabduljabbar, the coordinating co-chair for the committee and a doctoral student at UF’s College of Public Health and Health Professions.

She said obesity rates are higher in southern states, causing chronic health issues such as diabetes and heart disease. This risk is even higher within ethnic minority and rural communities.

“Obesity contributes to chronic health conditions that add a costly burden on our health care system,” Alabduljabbar said.

Fourth-grader Jesse Thacker attended the event and said, along with learning how to cook healthy foods, he will eat more vegetables and fruits after attending the event.

“I want to eat in smaller portions now, and I will only eat sugar once in awhile,” he said.

Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox
Support your local paper
Donate Today
The Independent Florida Alligator has been independent of the university since 1971, your donation today could help #SaveStudentNewsrooms. Please consider giving today.

Powered by SNworks Solutions by The State News
All Content © 2024 The Independent Florida Alligator and Campus Communications, Inc.