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BIDDEFORD, Maine

UNE's Coastal Healthy Communications Coalition promotes National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Over the past four decades, medical experts have considered the increasing rate in childhood obesity to be an epidemic.  In Maine alone, 27% of high school students, 30% of middle school students, and 36% of kindergarteners are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
 
September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month.   Family, friends, educators, and organizations are urged to support this month by encouraging healthy food choices and promoting physical activity.

Childhood obesity is 100% preventable.  Organizations around the United States plan to support this month's fight against childhood obesity through activities that build awareness and take action.  Our nation's hope is that results will last a lifetime.

For more information on giving children a healthier start to life visit www.HealthierKidsBrighterFutures.org

Coastal Healthy Communities Coalition (CHCC) is a community-based health promotion coalition working to promote tobacco prevention/cessation, substance abuse prevention, physical activity and nutrition in both the community and schools. CHCC collaborates with community partners to support initiatives and policy changes that promote and encourage healthy lifestyles through increased physical activity or nutrition. The coalition is a program of the University of New England's College of Osteopathic Medicine. CHCC is a Healthy Maine Partnership. For more information on the coalition, contact Megan Rochelo at 602-3550 or visit www.une.edu/chcc.

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.