Our nation is facing an obesity crisis, and Mississippi’s children are impacted the most.
In our state, childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions, with more than 25% of our children considered overweight. Additionally, a Youth Risk Behavior Survey of students in grades 9-12 revealed that 82% of Mississippi students were not getting the recommended amount of physical activity. If this trend is not reversed, the current generation will be the first in history to have a lower life expectancy than their parents. However, through programs like Let’s Go Walkin’ Mississippi and with the help of dedicated educators like you, we can begin to reverse this trend by increasing our students’ physical activity and improving their quality of life.

Passage of the Mississippi Healthy Students Act during the 2007 legislative session will long be remembered as a turning point for Mississippi’s children. With its requirement of 150 minutes of physical activity per week, our children will receive the education and exercise they need and deserve to help them live healthier lives. And, the Let’s Go Walkin’ Mississippi program can help meet these requirements in your school.

Walking is one of the simplest and purest forms of exercise – and it can be done by most anyone, anytime and anywhere. By providing your students with an outlet for exercise, you will see results in the classroom with increased concentration and creativity. These benefits will lead to improved academic performance and a healthier school. Plant the seed for a healthier Mississippi — healthy children become healthy adults.

Let’s Go Walkin’ Mississippi!