Anthem and Radio Disney are rewarding a local school for its commitment to fitness as part of an ongoing effort to battle childhood obesity.
Erwine Intermediate School in Coventry Township is among 20 schools statewide getting a free Radio Disney dance party as a winner in the Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge.
Erwine also was among five schools to win $500 worth of playground balls, jump ropes, frisbees, volleyballs and other gym equipment through the contest.
Students were challenged to be active and moving for at least 20 minutes daily for a minimum of 40 out of 55 days during the contest period Sept. 20 through Nov. 23.
This marks the third consecutive year Erwine has been a winner in the contest, said physical education teacher Jo Ann Antram. Of about 470 students in grades three through five at the school, all completed the challenge this school year.
The students were motivated to get active by the chance to have a Radio Disney dance party in May, Antram said. “They love it.”
Anthem launched the program with Radio Disney five years ago “to motivate kids and families to achieve fitness together by engaging in fun activities,” according to a news release.
About 17 percent of children and adolescents ages 2 to 19 are considered obese, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In Ohio, about a third of children are considered overweight or obese, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health.
“The Get Active, Get Fit School Challenge has touched hundreds of thousands of kids, teachers and their families,” Erin Hoeflinger, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio, said in a news release. “I’m proud to say we’re making a difference in children’s health.”
Marijuana benefit
New guidelines from the American Academy of Neurology suggest oral cannabis — or medical marijuana in pill or spray form — may ease spasticity, pain and frequent urination for multiple sclerosis patients.
The guidelines indicate there isn’t enough evidence to show whether smoking marijuana also helps treat symptoms of MS, a chronic neurological disorder that can cause symptoms ranging from numbness and tingling to paralysis.
The guidelines, released on Monday, note that doctors and patients should weigh the risks with the benefits because medical marijuana in pill or oral form can cause serious side effects, including seizures, dizziness, thinking and memory problems, and depression.
There is little evidence that most complementary or alternative medicine therapies treat MS symptoms, according to the academy’s new guidelines.
Colon cancer numbers
This year, an estimated 71,300 men and 65,000 women nationwide will be diagnosed with colon cancer, and 50,310 Americans will die from the disease.
These are among the colorectal cancer statistics and trends released this month by the American Cancer Society in its updated publication, Colorectal Cancer Facts & Figures.
Overall, the rate of cancer diagnosis among Americans 50 and older has declined 30 percent in the past decade, according to the nonprofit group. The rate of diagnosis among younger patients is increasing, though 90 percent of cases are among patients 50 and older.
An estimated one in 20 U.S. residents will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer at some point in their life, according to the society. The five-year survival rate is 90 percent when the disease is diagnosed at an early stage, but only about 40 percent of cases are diagnosed early.
Cheryl Powell can be reached at 330-996-3902 or cpowell@thebeaconjournal.com. Follow Powell on Twitter at twitter.com/CherylPowellABJ.