Bill Clinton fights childhood obesity after his 2nd heart surgery: South Florida schools fight too
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“More than ever, we as parents and a nation must do something about the growth of obesity in our children. We must do more than just talk, we must be concerned enough to act.”—Lee Haney
Former President Bill Clinton received a second wake up call three weeks ago warning him to change his lifestyle and eating habits. After an emergency trip to the hospital and an hour long, life saving heart surgery to unclog his blocked arteries, he is doing amazingly well. Six years after a quadruple bypass heart surgery, Ex-president Clinton was given a second chance at life that he is now taking very seriously.
Clinton stated, “I have been working too hard and sleeping too little and not exercising too little.” So what will he change? The former president stated, “I’m exercising more, I’m sleeping more and I’m trying to be even more rigorous about the diet… Lots of fruits and vegetables and salads.”
Clinton stated, “I have been working too hard and sleeping too little and not exercising too little.” So what will he change? The former president stated, “I’m exercising more, I’m sleeping more and I’m trying to be even more rigorous about the diet… Lots of fruits and vegetables and salads.”
When asked about his quick recovery, he shared, “I didn’t have any anesthesia or sedatives. I think I was able to make a quicker comeback because I didn’t go under. The next day I went out and walked two miles in the cold right before the snow in New York.”
Now, with the help of Governor and former actor, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Clinton is using his experience and knowledge to stop childhood obesity. Schwarzenegger and Clinton attended a summit in Los Angeles to discuss solutions to America’s obesity crisis. Clinton stated, “We understand not everybody has the same amount of time and not everybody has the same amount of money, but everybody can do something to increase their childrens’ exercise level and improve their food intake.” Clinton wants to get across to America that lifelong healthy habits are key to decreasing childhood obesity and giving our future generations a better chance at living healthy long lives.
Thirty-two percent of American children and teenagers are classified as overweight or obese, according to data that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) released in early January 2010. Of those children, 17 percent ages 2 to 19 are obese. South Florida has many programs available to help parents teach their children healthy eating and exercising habits.
In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, nearly a third of all high school students are overweight or obese, or at risk of becoming so. South Florida school systems are already working to promote healthy eating and physical fitness. The Miami-Dade district recently launched an initiative to bring fresh vegetables from a farm in Collier County directly to school cafeterias. In Broward, school administrators have banned cookies, cupcakes, cakes, and pies from school cafeterias. Four schools have a fresh fruit and vegetable project, said Barbara Leslie, who directs the food and nutrition services department.
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Dr. KC Kelly
Fort Lauderdale Mental Health Examiner
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