Hip Hop 4 Health hopes to fight childhood obesity - WFLA-TV Newschannel 8

Hip Hop 4 Health hopes to fight childhood obesity

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POLK COUNTY, FL -

A new program is aimed at promoting healthy student lifestyles.

Hip Hop 4 Health Afterschool Program focuses on getting students into more physical activity while improving cardiovascular health and healthier lifestyles through the use of the performing arts brought together by Hip Hop culture,  the release stated.

Six schools including .Bartow Middle, Blake Academy, Crystal Lake Middle, Lake Marion Creek Elementary, Lake Gibson Middle and Lakeland Highlands Middle have already committed to the program in hopes of raising awareness about overall human wellness.

School-based teams meet with a professional hip hop dance instructor for a monthly workshop. In between, they attend weekly practices where they wear pedometers and record steps in a pedometer log kept by a faculty sponsor.

Students also perform at events such as basketball games and community festivals. Later this month, Polk County will host a dance competition in conjunction with student health fairs.

The program is the result of a $10,000 grant funded by Amerigroup. As part of the program, students are also given speakers so they can practice their music and are given free transportation to three events. The faculty sponsor is also provided a stipend for scheduling events, overseeing practices and supervising students, record keeping and tracking student progress in a pedometer log.

Hip Hop teams will be performing at the State Basketball Tournament this week at the Lakeland Center located at 701 W. Lime Street, Lakeland, FL 33815

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