FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   
Aug. 21, 2009

Local Company Contributes to Weight Management Program at St. John’s Mercy

Matt Tobben, a local State Farm insurance agent recently donated more than 250 pedometers to the Jump into Health program at St. John’s Mercy Nutrition and Diabetes Wellness Center.

The Jump Into Health Program is a pediatric weight management and wellness program for kids. It is a service offered by St. John's to treat and prevent childhood obesity. The program is in its fourth year and is funded by grants and private sponsors. The program consists of an afterschool pediatric weight management program and an in-school wellness program.

In the afterschool program, children are referred by their pediatricians or primary care physicians and are placed into groups based on their ages. It is a 10-week program. Each class provides 30 minutes of nutrition education and 45 minutes of exercise. Led by a registered dietitian and a physical therapist from St. John's Mercy Hospital, the program helps children build self-esteem through fun physical activities and healthy eating habits.   

The In School program is working with three schools, Fifth Street and Southpoint elementary schools in the Washington School District and Our Lady of Lourdes. With those three schools, the program reaches about 150 children a year. Dietitians visit the schools on a monthly basis, leading children into pursuing goals for nutrition and activities. Each child receives a pedometer at the beginning of the school year to encourage physical activity.

Tobben donated the pedometers as part of State Farm’s national program to encourage healthy living.