NEWS: Childhood Obesity Dropped 68% in Beach Cities Blue Zones Project While National Numbers Rise

In 2007, 1 in 5 Redondo Beach elementary school students were obese, higher than both Los Angeles County and national numbers.  Redondo Beach Unified School District started initiatives to tackle the childhood obesity crisis and looked for innovations to help. In 2010, the Beach Cities Health District was selected as a Blue Zones Project^® demonstration site, resulting in community-wide efforts to make the healthy choice the easy choice through semi-permanent and permanent changes to the environment. Over the course of 12 years and with the help of BCHD, LiveWell Kids, Blue Zones Project, local organizations, and community participation, the obesity rate in the school district has continued to drop steadily. A recent case study declared that obesity has plunged to just 6.4% in Redondo Beach elementary schools in 2019—a 68% drop since 2007, while the national average has risen from 16% to 18% over the same period.

Click to read more from the official press release: https://www.bluezones.com/2020/07/news-childhood-obesity-dropped-68-in-beach-cities-blue-zones-project-while-national-numbers-rise/

“Health is a Gift You Give Yourself”

Robert Breakey, MD

Health and vitality are largely the result of lifestyle choices that are available to all of us. In this free seminar, Dr. Breakey will explore why and how a Whole Food Plant-Based lifestyle provides optimal nutrition for people of all ages, and how this will support them in enjoying a long, healthy, fulfilling, and productive life well into their elder years. He will also discuss why The Standard American diet is the root cause for the epidemic of our most common chronic diseases and our spiraling healthcare costs. Dr. Breakey will explore how supporting our communities in adopting a Plant Based Lifestyle leads to dramatically better health outcomes, including an enhanced experience of care, fewer side effects from treatment protocols and a lower cost of care.

About Dr. Breakey

Robert Breakey, MD is a 5th generation graduate from the University of Michigan Medical School. He completed his Family Medicine residency at the University of Wisconsin in 1984. He has followed a plant-based lifestyle himself since 1977, and has practiced Lifestyle Family Medicine in Ann Arbor for 33 years. Dr. Breakey is Chairman of the Board and Head of the Family Medicine Division for his medical group: IHA. He is also on the Board of Directors at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital in Ann Arbor.

Dr. Breakey has special interests in health promotion, whole food plant-based nutrition, positive wellness and supporting the natural healing process that we all have within us.

Saturday, February 8th, 2020

2:30pm – 4:00pm

The Ann Arbor Seventh

Day Adventist Church

2796 Packard Rd.

Ann Arbor, Michigan

**No RSVP necessary, but please arrive 15 minutes early to get a good seat

In a recent press release, Barry Community Foundation announced:

The Barry Community Foundation and other local leaders have joined forces with Blue Zones to begin a countywide well-being transformation in Barry County, Michigan through the Blue Zones Activate program. Blue Zones uses scientifically proven lessons of longevity, health, and happiness to boost the well-being of entire communities. Barry County is proud to be the first community in Michigan to partner with this innovative approach to increase community health and wellness.

Read the full press release here: https://www.prweb.com/releases/blue_zones_and_barry_community_foundation_launch_groundbreaking_countywide_transformation/prweb16600972.htm

By optimizing the places where people spend most of their time, Blue Zones Activate helps communities with policy initiatives to create environments where healthy choices are easier and accessible to everyone. As a result, people can live longer and better, and communities can lower healthcare costs, improve productivity, and boost their city’s national recognition as a great place to live, work, and play.

For more information on Blue Zones Activate or to learn how to get involved, visit bluezones.com/activate-barry-county.