The Save Our Kids: The Obesity Crisis Conference, which was sponsored by the Golden Rule Foundation, Kraft Foods, and the Robins Foundation and organized by the Sports Backers, brought together national experts in physical education, health education, fitness, and nutrition together to discuss solutions to Central Virginia's childhood obesity problem.

More than 175 attendees participated in presentations by 19 speakers from across the country, including: Jordan Parks, regional outreach manager for the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, Washington, DC; Dr. Billy K. Cannaday Jr., Superintendent for Public Instruction for the State of Virginia; Tracy A. Fox, President, Food Nutrition & Policy, Bethesda, MD; and Ms. Beth Kirkpatrick, Director of Education, POLAR USA. The conference concluded with a call to action from the Honorable John M. O'Bannon III, Delegate of the 73rd District, Virginia House of Delegates and chairman of the Joint Subcommittee Studying Childhood Obesity in Virginia's Public Schools, that concerned citizens should push their legislators to support his efforts to craft the recommendations of his subcommittee's November 13th meeting into legislation.

O'Bannon's joint subcommittee recommends the following:

* Board of education best practices database
* Mandatory PE requirement for elementary school kids of 30 minutes per day, in addition to recess activities
* Budget amendment to increase state reimbursement level for school lunches
* Resolution and letter encouraging participation in governor's nutrition and physical activity scorecard program

In addition, many attendees were impressed with Kirkpatrick's assertion that physical education programs work best when students are encouraged to exercise according to their own level of fitness with their heart rate as the guide. According to Kirkpatrick, this strategy allows for greater individualization in exercise methods, an improved sense of accomplishment by students, and a greater tendency to continue with vigorous exercise into adulthood.

Edmund O. Acevedo, PhD, Professor and Chair, Human Performance, Virginia Commonwealth University, also highlighted the need for a regional coalition for physical activity and nutrition to push for community- and government-initiated lifestyle changes.

The Sports Backers are leaders in the region's battle against childhood obesity through Fit For Life, a free incentive-based youth fitness program for school children. In addition, they organize many community parent-child fitness events such as the First Market Kids Mile, the James River Scramble Junior, and the Richmond Times-Dispatch Kids Run. They also award $40,000 in scholarships annually to qualified high school scholar- athletes.

Sign up online at www.sportsbackers.org.