(AllHipHop News) Childhood obesity is a national health epidemic and an issue attracting the attention of people in high places such as First Lady Michelle Obama. And, while illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes are well-documented as eventual threats to children’s health, there are other surprising statistics emerging – such as the fact that one -in-10 American children has fatty liver disease from high sugar, high fat diets.
Today (June 1), AllHipHop.com and the City for Change movement founded by the Hip-Hop website’s co-founder, Chuck “Jigsaw” Creekmur, and editor, Seandra Sims have partnered with the “Dunk The Junk” organization to help an Atlanta school learn the basics behind making smart, daily decisions about their diets.
Students at the unnamed school will be treated to appearances from an All-Star cast, including CNN Health’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta, Atlanta rapper Killer Mike, NBA dunking legend Dominique Wilkins, and 2011 NCAA Dunk Champion Jacob Tucker.
The information the youth receive from Dunk The Junk – such as the fact that soda contains more sugar than the average chocolate bar – will be conveyed through the unique channels of sports (a dunking exhibition from Tucker and chance to meet Wilkins), art (custom graffiti T-shirts and a graffiti-inspired mural of participating sponsors left the school), and Hip-Hop (support from Black Thought’s GrassROOTS Community Foundation and an in-person visit from Killer Mike, fresh off the release of his R.A.P. Music album).
CNN Health will broadcast the Q&A with Dr. Gupta and other Dunk The Junk event sponsors in the coming days.
Following their work on the Atlanta event, GrassROOTS Community Foundation, Dunk The Junk, and City for Change have created an ongoing partnership – the Triple H Collective (Hoops, Hip-Hop, and Health Research) – aimed at connecting Hip-Hop artists and athletes with efforts to promote health living and academic success to children across the nation.
For more information, visit DunkTheJunk.org and Grass-RootsFoundation.org.
Check out a video of Dunk Champion Jacob Tucker in action: