Elizabeth Gibbons, a SC Medical Association Alliance volunteer, discusses healthy snacks with Killian Elementary students

Third graders at Killian Elementary may think twice before guzzling a soft drink after attending the SC Medical Association Al-liance health fair held last Friday. Children were in awe of the long rows of sugar packets taped together to illustrate how much sugar is loaded into popular sodas and juices.

The SC Medical Association Alliance (SCMAA) conducted a health fair at Killian Elementary that just may change the way many third graders choose their foods at school, at home, and on the road.

Booths creatively showcased all kinds of foods, along with their calories, fat grams, and sugar content. Participants learned how to choose foods wisely, which ultimately helps control weight gain and reduces the chances of future health problems.

The health fair is the brain child of SCMAA president Lauren Sutton. “We are dedicated to the health of SC,” she said. “More than 63% of Americans are overweight. Our goal is to inform youth about nutritional balance and ways to get up and move.”

Sutton noted that television commercials, which often promote a sedentary lifestyle and foods with empty calories, has doubled from 20,000 to 40,000 since 1979.

The SCMAA, organized by physicians’ spouses in SC, has visited schools in Laurens, Gray Court, Charleston, Orangeburg, Conway, and Johns Island as part of a nationwide battle against childhood obesity. “We know we can’t change lifestyles overnight, but our goal is making small steps toward change.”

The Killian Elementary gymnasium was filled with interactive booths that taught healthy eating habits, how to pick foods at the grocery store, how to quickly prepare healthy snacks, ways to get more exercise, and intriguing food facts.

Elizabeth Gibbons, one of 17 SCMAA volunteers at the health fair, is working on a campaign to promote the health organization as part of her senior project at the college of journalism and mass communications at USC.

The enthusiastic students who visited Gibbons’ booth learned about healthy snacks to eat on the go. “‘How easy is that?!’ students shouted in unison as they picked out a snack to dip and eat.

Gibbons admired the motivation and dedication of the SC Medical Association Alliance. “They are passionate about fighting against child obesity. My role is to get the parents involved and create public awareness for this program.” Gibbons plans to take the health fair to the students at USC as well.

Organizers of the health fair sent home placemats with the students to get parents involved in the effort to choose healthy foods. The children are also participating in a group challenge to walk twenty minutes a day with their parents.

For more information about the SCMAA or scheduling a health fair, call (803) 798-6207 ext. 232.