Coulee Region Childhood Obesity Coalition
              Jump into Healthy Living

Rising rates of childhood obesity has sparked concern in the Coulee Region among professionals & parents alike.  To address this concern the Coulee Region Childhood Obesity Coalition was formed in November 2000.  Linda Lee (La Crosse County Health Dept.) and Beth Balder (Gundersen-Lutheran-Onalaska) co-chair the Coalition. 

The Coalition’s mission is to improve the health of Coulee Region children by encouraging healthy food choices and regular physical activity. 

Over the past 4 years Coalition activities have focused on:

• Building awareness of the problem of obesity, particularly in children.

• Promoting the consumption of healthy foods and an active lifestyle through our web site, the media, our quarterly newsletter and events such as Walk to School Day.

• Promoting healthy eating through community programs and Healthy Meals 101 programs at Family Resources.

• Supporting the implementation of school policies & health care protocols that encourage healthy eating and regular physical activity.

Current projects include:

• Working with Onalaska Planning Department and Irving Pertzsch Elementary School to implement a Safe Routes to School program to encourage students at the school to walk/bike to school

• Providing assistance to area schools as they construct their wellness policies

• Continuing to be a community resource on developing healthy eating and activity habits in children.

For more information about the Coalition and its activities visit our web site at www.childhoodobesitycoalition.org