Kaiser Permanente and the Washington Mystics are proud partners in the fight against obesity and the promotion of healthy living. The two organizations teamed up to support a year-long initiative with three local elementary schools to encourage children to move more and eat better. Through this partnership, students and teachers participate in the “Mystics in Training” anti-obesity program, which includes walking the “Mystic Mile” several times a week.

 Both Kaiser Permanente and the Washington Mystics have demonstrated a commitment to improving the health of the local community with a special emphasis on helping children adopt healthy habits at an early age. 
There has never been a more pressing need for such a partnership.  According to the Centers for Disease Control, for the first time in 100 years, today’s children have a shorter life expectancy than their parents because children are so overweight.  In the past 30 years, the number of overweight or obese children in this country has tripled. Today, an estimated nine million children nationwide are obese or overweight.  Of these children, 75% will become obese or overweight adults. 

The effects of obesity are comparable to twenty years of aging. Obese adults have 30-50% more chronic health problems such as diabetes and heart disease, than those that smoke or drink heavily. The stakes are high and the toll obesity takes on mental and physical well being are why Kaiser Permanente and the Washington Mystics decided to “play ball.”   

“Kaiser Permanente welcomes the opportunity to work with such respected members of the greater Washington community as Sheila Johnson and the Mystics women,” says Sandra Gregg, vice president of communications and external relations.  “We want to help people in this region develop life-long healthy habits, so we are pleased to give children, adults and basketball fans the tools and resources to thrive!”