Program to Give Denver Kids Pedometers to Battle Obesity

A pilot program in Denver plans to help kids battle obesity by handing out pedometers to measure how many steps they walk each day.

Health officials said they will give 200 kids the matchbook-size belt clip pedometers, and hope they will be fun enough to motivate youngsters to walk at least 10,000 steps each day, which equals the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendation of 30 minutes of moderate exercise five days per week.

"It appears with a pedometer, people are more likely to stick with exercising and stick with walking," said Lee Stiffler-Meyer, at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. "Most kids aren't doing that."

Officials have not yet determined which schools will get the pedometers or the age of the group to be tested.

The program launch will be federally funded.

Other sources: Denver Post