New Children’s Wellness Program Launches
TORONTO – Rogers Media, AstraZeneca Canada and Physical and Health Education Canada (PHE Canada) have introduced a school-based children’s wellness initiative called At My Best. The program addresses three key areas of wellness-physical, nutritional and emotional-and empowers teachers, parents and caregivers to inspire and motivate children and their families to make healthier choices today and develop lifelong healthy habits.
A recent report found Canadian school children’s physical activity levels received an F grade for the third year in a row with only 13 per cent of Canadian children and youth meeting the minimum recommendation of 90 minutes of physical activity per day. In addition, most children are not getting the daily minimum requirement of fruits and vegetables, and a quarter of Canadian children are either overweight or obese. At My Best is a comprehensive and innovative solution to these issues.
“This partnership is a great example of the public and private sector working together to make a difference in the lives of Canadians,” says Andrea Grantham, executive director, PHE Canada.
PHE Canada and AstraZeneca Canada assembled a team of educators with expertise in physical education, nutrition, health promotion and children’s wellness. Parents, children and health experts co-created a comprehensive, turn-key program to; reduce childhood obesity rates, improve nutritional health and raise children’s self-esteem.
Created for students in kindergarten to grade three, At My Best launched in October 2008 and has rolled out to 1,000 schools in English and French across the country. The program, which has been officially endorsed by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, will be rolled out to another 1,000 schools each year.
For more information, visit www.atmybest.ca.
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