Madison, News, RSS Facebook, RSS General, RSS Twitter, Schools
 By  GreggParker Published 
5:01 pm Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Physicians’ grant brings Childhood Obesity Awareness Day to Heritage

During Childhood Obesity Awareness Day, Heritage students took squash and tomato plants, supplied by Deep Roots, for home planting. (CONTRIBUTED)

During Childhood Obesity Awareness Day, Heritage students took squash and tomato plants, supplied by Deep Roots, for home planting. (CONTRIBUTED)

MADISON – To recognize and face a national trend, Heritage Elementary School observed Childhood Obesity Awareness Day on April 17 with a grant from a local physician’s group.

Dr. Jitendra Jain and the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin awarded the grant. “Heritage is the first elementary school to host this event,” principal Dr. Georgina Nelson said. “We are very appreciative that Dr. Jain and his team chose our school to pilot this program.”

Prevention is a vital part of overall wellness. “Part of our job as doctors is not just treating people when they get sick but teach them how to live healthier to prevent it,” Jain said. Jain practices at BrightStarts Pediatrics at 102 Essex Court, Suite A in Madison.

“As we all know, juvenile obesity is a huge issue in our nation and state,” Nelson said. “This event brought in experts — pediatricians, nutritionists, experts in diet and exercise. Teaching children early about living a healthy lifestyle is a key to helping us get there.”

All students in grades 3-6 attended an opening assembly program. Guest speakers introduced topics and described events of the day, assistant principal Sharon Phillips said. Heritage’s physical education department chaired the event.

Guest speakers included Mayor Troy and Dana Trulock; Sarah Switzer, Liberty Middle School; Carl Prather, WHNT sports; and doctors in the American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin.

Students learned about exercise options and healthy snack choices, along with learning how to calculate their BMI (body mass index), to use a pedometer and to grow vegetables, Phillips said. All students received a souvenir T-shirt.

Students then rotated among six learning stations. Sponsors were Deep Roots, Publix, Huntsville Hospital Wellness Center, Kids Yoga, Alabama A&M University Student Health and Wellness Center.

Deep Roots gave tomato and squash plants to students and demonstrated planting techniques. To conclude the event, Heritage students used their new pedometers and walked the field track with Chaos, Huntsville Havoc’s mascot.

For more information, visit aapiusa.org.

Also on The Madison Record
City of Madison Update planned for Sept. 10 at VBC
A: Main, Events, Madison County Record, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – Mayor Paul Finley will present “City of Madison Update” as a forum to announce current affairs and future projects for the community. The Ch...
MCS scores big in 2025 school rankings
A: Main, Madison County Record, News, ...
Staff Reports 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - Bob Jones and James Clemens high schools once again scored big in the annual U.S. News and World Report “Best High Schools in America” ranki...
City approves hotel market study for historic downtown
Business, Madison County Record, News, ...
Maria Rakoczy 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - The Madison City Council approved a hotel market feasibility study for the downtown area last week. Core Distribution Group, LLC will be con...
Kids to Love celebrates opening of Smith Family Wellness Center
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
Staff Reports 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - Amazing. That’s the word that best captures the night Kids to Love officially opened the doors of its most ambitious initiative yet—the Smit...
ShowerUp Huntsville brings showers and laundry services to those in need
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By KADIE TAYLOR news@themadisonrecord.com 
August 27, 2025
MADISON - ShowerUp Huntsville provides free showers and laundry services to those in need in Madison, Huntsville and North Alabama. “We don’t require ...
Madison Witches Ride to return on Oct. 19, registration starts next week
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – Sharpen those broom bristles. Dust off your pointed, black hat. Rehearse your spinetingling cackle. The time is near for the 2025 Madison Wi...
Library schedules films for ‘Mad Movie-A-Thon-O-Rama!’
Events, Madison County Record, News, ...
Gregg Parker 
August 27, 2025
MADISON – “Mad Movie- A-Thon-O-Rama!” returns to Madison Public Library with entertaining films – from campy to classic – for the remainder of 2025. T...
West Coast Swing Dance is on the menu every Tuesday at The Electric Belle
Madison County Record, News, The Madison Recor, ...
By KADIE TAYLOR news@themadisonrecord.com 
August 27, 2025
HUNTSVILLE - Everyone starts somewhere, if you have never danced, learn to swing at the Electric Belle. Located at the end of Gas Light Alley at Stove...

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *