Governor Blunt is on a fly-around of the state to promote the State Health Department’s initiative against obesity.Blunt says the plan focuses on better nutrition and exercise in the family, better food in schools, and a program to recognize successful efforts made by employers.In Kansas City, Blunt unveiled statistics on fat in Missouri. More than 23% of Missouri adults are obsese. That is nearly twice the number of overweight Missourians from 15 years ago. Concern has been expressed about the weight gain among youth. Health officials say the number of middle school children considered obese has grown by 75% in the past five years. Among highschoolers, obesity has increased by 64%. Blunt says the cost of treating obesity-related medical conditions in Missouri approached $1-point-6 billion. Blunt used the backdrop of the Fitness Source, a downtown Kansas City gym used by city employees, to emphasize the state’s program to slim down Missourians. As for Blunt, he says he keeps fit by watching what he eats and running daily.
