About Us

Overweight and obesity have become major public health concerns in the United States, reaching epidemic proportions among adults and children in recent years. According to the most recent national surveys, American adults have experienced a 50% increase in the prevalence of overweight and obesity. In a report by Trust for America's Health (TFAH), South Carolina ranks fifth nationally in obese adults. At the present, 29.7 percent of South Carolina's adults are obese. Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009. Nationally, the adult obesity rates now exceed 25 percent in 19 states. Also, national reports show that ten of the 15 states with the highest rates of adult obesity are located in the South. Moreover, an alarming 100% increase has been observed among children and adolescents since the 1970s.

This year, TFAH reported that children living in the state of South Carolina ranging from ages 10 to 17 years old ranked thirteenth highest in the nation in obesity percentage at 33.7%. The report also finds that rates of overweight children (ages 10 to 17) ranged from a high of 44.4 percent in Mississippi to a low of 23.1 percent in Utah. Eight of the ten states with the highest rates of overweight children were in the South. A number of factors may contribute to the unprecedented levels of overweight and obesity observed among American youth, including physical inactivity, poor nutritional habits (i.e., high-fat meals and snacks, and super-sizing), economic, and social factors. Consequently, the coordinated efforts of governmental agencies, physicians, school nurses, teachers, parents, and students will be necessary to effectively address the growing problem of childhood obesity. Jeff Levi, PhD, executive Director of TFAH states, "There has been a break through in terms of (Federal & State) policies and results. Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are robbing America of our health and productivity".

A Progressive State

South Carolina is taking proactive measures to improve the food selections at our schools and cafeterias. S.C. is one of 22 states that have set nutritional standards for foods sold in vending machines, A la Carte, in school stores, or in bake sales in schools. The Palmetto state is one of 26 states that limit when and where these foods may be sold on school property beyond federal requirements. Also, S.C. is one of 16 states that screen students' Body Mass Index (BMI) or fitness status and confidentially provide information to parents or guardians. S.C. is also one of 17 states that require their school lunches, breakfast, and snacks to meet higher nutritional standards than the U.S Department of Agriculture (USDA) requires.

A Stand Against Childhood Obesity

The Young Marathon Runner's of America's (YMRA) mission is, "to inspire the youth to live a healthier life by becoming physically active and nutritionally savvy". Our vision is to see every child embrace a physically active and productive lifestyle. With the goal of reducing the childhood obesity rate in upstate South Carolina by 50 percent by the end of this decade, we seek to partner with parents, youth, schools, churches, hospitals, and athletic facilities to pursue the organizations purpose of activating the youth in upstate South Carolina. By educating our children on the benefits of a healthier more physically active lifestyle, we can dramatically reduce the obesity rate in South Carolina, thus improving the quality of life for this generation and the lives of the many they have the potential to impact. This is possible by promoting a culture of health & wellness and meeting our objective of seeing Greenville County become the first Health & Wellness city in the State of South Carolina. YMRA will work relentlessly at pursuing the organization's purpose of activating the youth in upstate S.C.

South Carolina ranks 13th nationally in the number of obese children whose ages range from 10 to 17 years, meaning a movement is needed now to reverse this cycle and the negative effects that obesity produces on the quality of one's life. Even worse, eight of the ten states having the highest number of overweight children are in the Southeast. Child obesity is a national epidemic that affects all of our children. Young children are expected to live longer lives, yet their quality of life is decreasing due to conditions disproportionately influenced by the lack of physical exercise and poor nutrition like stress, anxiety, type 2 diabetes, asthma, hypertension, irregular heartbeat, etc. YMRA is committed to doing everything possible to restore the physical, mental, and emotional health of today's youth by bridging the understanding of how these three components of well-being work together.

Through a partnership with Mr. Mike Cambre, my mentor and former race director of the New Orleans Track Club, we have created a comprehensive program designed to teach, train, and inspire young people through participation in various running events. We recognize there is a strong following for the adult marathon clubs, while little exists to educate and motivate the upcoming youth on the benefits challenging physical activities like marathon running. As a part of his/her commitments as members of YMRA, each young person will learn the benefits and rewards of igniting a personal vision for their lives, setting short and long-tem goals, enjoying the fruits of personal achievement, and allowing what comes to them as seeds travel to another as blossoms to eventually be shared as fruit.

Thank you,

Nicholas Wideman
President
Fighting Childhood Obesity