By M. Sepic, KWMU
St. Louis, Mo. – A children's advocacy group is hoping to reduce high levels of obesity and diabetes in St. Louis area third- and fourth-graders.
'Support A Child International' Monday launched a new health education initiative for kids and parents that will target ten low-income schools in St. Louis city and County.
Linda McClerklin directs the program-known as "Healthy Futures."
"We are prevention-focused, we're not treatment-focused. Our initial goal is to identify at least 1000 at-risk children," McClerklin said.
McClerklin says type-2 diabetes in children is directly linked to poor diets and obesity.
The Missouri Foundation for Health is funding the two-year pilot program.