Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire Helping Local Youngsters Get Fit (02/05/2006)
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Insurer Makes Two Donations To Granite State FitKids
Media Contacts:
Charles Cappetta, MD (603) 577-4400
Chris Dugan (603) 695-7202
chris.dugan@anthem.com Manchester, NH – February 6, 2006 – New Hampshire kids in several area school districts are now logging their steps, thanks to a pair of donations from Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire donated 3,000 pedometers and $1500 to Granite State FitKids.
“This is a wonderful way to start the New Year!” said Charles Cappetta, MD, founder of Granite State FitKids. “These two donations will help us to reach even more students this coming year,” he added. “The pedometers will help the kids better understand their activity levels.”
Granite State FitKids is an interactive health awareness program specifically designed for 4th grade students. The seven lesson program helps children better understand the body system through classroom activities and hands-on demonstrations. Students are also encouraged to establish a regular program of exercise.
“Granite State FitKids helps children establish healthy lifestyle habits at a young age,” said Lisa M. Guertin, president – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire. “We’re pleased to help support this wonderful mission.”
Dr. Cappetta, a pediatrician who practices in Nashua, says that the program is especially important today. “It is estimated that 25 to 30 percent of all adult obesity cases begin in childhood. Adult health complications associated with pediatric obesity include: Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol levels, and heart disease. This program helps kids understand how to keep themselves healthy and hopefully become healthier adults.”
And unhealthy lifestyles adopted by children, can also exacerbate as they become young adults. “Unless we can teach our children to live a healthier lifestyle when they’re young, we run the risk of them adopting other unhealthy behaviors as they age, such as smoking, alcohol use, and a sedentary lifestyle,” said Elizabeth Malko, Medical Director for Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire. “The Granite State FitKids program provides some wonderful building blocks toward creating healthier children.”
To learn more about Granite State Fitkids, please contact Dr. Cappetta at (603) 577-4400. Information is also available on their website at www.granitestatefitkids.org.
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in New Hampshire is a member of WellPoint, Inc. the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com. |