Thibodaux Regional Continues Efforts to Improve Health and Wellness of Youth Through Expansion of Playground Equipment Sponsorship to Area Schools

Thibodaux Regional Health System is pleased to announce that it will sponsor new playground equipment for seven elementary schools in the Lafourche Parish School District. This project is a continuation of Thibodaux Regional’s ongoing initiative to improve the health and wellness of the youth in Lafourche and surrounding parishes.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Louisiana ranks fourth highest in the U.S. in childhood obesity, which often leads to chronic, preventable conditions in adulthood such as heart disease and diabetes. The CDC recommends that children and adolescents participate in 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-intensity physical activity each day.

Thibodaux Regional has taken a leadership role in addressing childhood obesity and strongly believes that if children are provided with education focused on healthy lifestyle choices and an opportunity to increase their physical activity, improvements can be made to their overall health.

For example, hospital staff members and physicians have provided nutrition and fitness instruction in a fun and interactive way to sixth grade public and private schools. Students learned how they can make behavior changes to achieve success in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Additionally, Thibodaux Regional sponsored books for second grade students that taught a brief lesson about unhealthy eating habits that are harmful to their health.

“Most recently Thibodaux Regional sponsored new playground equipment for Raceland Upper and Lower Elementary schools,” said Greg Stock, Thibodaux Regional CEO. “We received such an overwhelmingly positive response from the students, teachers and parents that we approached the school district and elementary school principals about sponsoring adequate playground equipment for other elementary schools in the parish.”

“The success of this initiative has led to community civic organizations and business leaders wanting to partner with the hospital in providing the needed playground equipment,” continued Stock. “We are excited that others want to get involved, and appreciate the opportunity to work with them and the School District to further the hospital’s efforts in providing our youth with the tools they need to make a positive impact on their overall health.”

“Physical activity gives children a chance to stay healthy. Playground equipment provides children the opportunity to practice key social, cognitive and physical skills, said Jo Ann Matthews, Ed. D., Lafourche Parish School District Superintendent. “We sincerely thank Thibodaux Regional for its commitment and investment in our students.”

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