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As part of the ongoing LiVe public service campaign, Intermountain Healthcare and SelectHealth are expanding efforts to combat childhood obesity in a new educational theater program that will be touring Utah schools 2008–2010.
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"We are concerned about the future health of adolescents who struggle with weight issues," says Tamara Lewis, MD, Intermountain's medical director for Community Health and Prevention. "These assemblies will reach more than 90,000 Utah students, helping young people make healthy choices and build good habits for the rest of their lives."
The cost of the program is being underwritten by SelectHealth and is free to Utah schools. The theater show will visit 75 of Utah's junior high and middles schools in spring 2008, 75 schools in 2009, and 75 in 2010. Each school will receive a comprehensive follow-up school resource kit, including fun, hands-on lesson plans and reproducible activity sheets.
The Massachusetts-based, Emmy Award-winning nutrition media company, FoodPlay Productions, developed the
program for Intermountain Healthcare and SelectHealth.

The LiVe—This is Your Life! show is part of Intermountain Healthcare's ongoing LiVe public service campaign to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles. The campaign's goal is to change attitudes of adolescents ages 11 to 15, by making it "cool" to be more active, watch less TV, shorten video game play, and make healthier food choices. Other components of Intermountain's LiVe Campaign include an interactive website, educational materials for doctors and teachers, and public service announcements on radio and TV.
Adolescent obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions in the United States with nearly 25 percent of teens now classified as obese, overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of teens that are overweight and obese has doubled in the past three decades. Teen obesity can lead to serious health issues like asthma, diabetes and hypertension. Adolescents who are overweight or obese can also face social, psychological and emotional problems.
Clips from Intermountain Healthcare's THIS IS YOUR LIFE! (3:44 min.)
Rave Reviews
Thank you for the privilege of having the presentation, LiVe—This Is Your Life! at our school. I thought it had a lot of information and a lot of humor and fun to keep the students attention. I have noticed that at this age and in this fast paced society, it is hard to entertain kids, let alone teach them. This assembly did both! It was my favorite presentation of the year and we were so lucky to have it.
—Jennifer Yorgesen, Willowcreek Middle School, Lehi, UT (March 2008)
The assembly was a very good way to get students' attention about some very important health issues. The students were entertained and engaged with the performance. We would love to have this type of assembly come every year. Thank you. P.S. The students that got the LiVe T-shirts loved the prizes. I've seen them wear them to school.
—Joe Meanea, Health/Fitness Department Head, Vernal Jr. High, Vernal, UT (April 2008)
Yesterday our 7th and 8th grade students were honored with a performance of LiVe-This Is Your Life! I appreciate that your company is so willing to contribute to the healthy lifestyles of our youth. I have been impressed with the management of this program since the day I was first contacted about its availability...The content was humorous, fast-paced, and relevant to the health issues of today. Our students loved it.
—Larry David, Principal, Canyon View Jr. High School, Huntington, UT (April 2008)
For More Information
Learn more about how get the LiVe—This is Your Life! assembly at your Utah school:
LiVe—This is Your Life!
You can book a similar program in other areas, called This Is Your Life!, through FoodPlay Productions. Learn more:
This is Your Life!
Press release:
Press Release: Theater Troupe Touring 225 Utah Middle Schools To Improve Kids Health
For more information about customized partnerships,
contact:
Patti Dougherty, Program Director
1-800-FOODPLAY (1-800-366-3752) or Email




