Macon, GA, 2/26/2020

MGB INC Partners with Men About Change to Target Youth Obesity in Macon, GA

MGB INC (Men Giving Back) and Men About Change, two African American male, community-based organizations have developed a partnership to target escalating youth obesity in Macon, GA.  The program launched, on Monday, at the Men About Change after school program

According to The Telegraph (2018), a report by the New York University School of Medicine’s Department of Population Health ranked Macon as one of the highest in rates of obesity among larger Georgia cities.  The City of Health Dashboard tracks 36 measures affecting health for the 500 largest cities (those with populations of about 66,000 or more).  Diabetes rates in the cities assessed in Georgia ranged from a low of 7.2% of adults in Sandy Springs (a more affluent community) to a high of 16.7% in Macon, Georgia where children and families are physically inactive.

Many adverse health effects are associated with overweight and are observed in children and adolescents: increased morbidity & mortality in later life, Asthma, Diabetes (Type 2), Hypertension, Orthopedic complications, Sleep Apnea, Psycho-social Effects & Stigma, taunting & bullying by peers, depression & suicidal tendencies.

MGB INC will provide free health and fitness programs [NFL Play 60, My Plate nutrition program, Presidential Active Lifestyle Award (PALA) program and a prominent national program recreational running program that targets sedentary lifestyles.

Men About Change is housed on the campus of Glorious Hope Baptist Church, Macon, GA, under the leadership of senior pastor, Dr. John Herring.  Pastor Herring and Glorious Hope Baptist Church have partnered with Men About Change and provides meeting space, financial support and mentors to sustain and grow the initiative.  Men About Change provides academic support, cultural enrichment, behavior modification and emotional support to well over 100 boys and girls per session from Pre-K to 8th grade.

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