The National Governor’s Association named Wisconsin one of 15 states to receive a $100,000 grant to fight childhood obesity as part of their Healthy Kids, Healthy America 2007 award.

Money from the grant will go towards the Healthier Wisconsin Schools initiative and the Governor’s School Health Award initiative, according to a Tuesday release from Gov. Jim Doyle and the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.

The award gives “up to $100,000 for proposals that focus on preventing childhood obesity through policy and environmental change,” according to the NGA website.

Patrick Gasper, communications officer for the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, said he is excited to get these resources for the program.

“We’re very happy,” Gasper said. “We’ve already started a lot of [health programs] in Wisconsin. This is going to help us evaluate and increase those things.”

Alexandra Adams, assistant professor in the department of family medicine at the University of Wisconsin, said there are different methods of preventing childhood obesity that the funding will go toward.

“Some communities are looking at school-based programs like getting rid of soda machines, increased physical activity, more fruits and vegetables in lunches, and others,” Adams said. “Some communities look at environmental changes like walking paths and safe routes to school.”

Some of the dangers of childhood obesity include an increased risk of adulthood diabetes and cardiovascular disease, depression, orthopedic problems or lipid abnormalities like high blood pressure and cholesterol according to Adams.

“Now we’re going to have to sit down with the grant and say, ‘how is this going to be done,'” Adams said. “‘Where is the money best to go?'”

Gasper said the money would be put toward helping students make better health choices and evaluating the Governor’s School Health Award.

The Governor’s School Health Award is given to schools who meet certain criteria regarding physical education, activity, healthy eating and nutrition education, and to schools that promote drug-free lifestyles. The award is also given to schools promoting staff wellness.

The award has three levels of recognition — gold, silver and bronze. According to the award’s website, all schools that have won past awards have had an advisory council in place to help “involve a diverse group of stakeholders in the development and monitoring of their school health program activities.”

Marshall Middle School in Janesville won the Gold Award in both the 2005-06 and 2006-07 school years for its school meals program, which had a high student participation rate for both breakfast and lunch programs. All meals prepared on school premises met USDA standards.

According to Adams, obesity is defined by the child’s Body Mass Index, which is based on height and weight.

“That is then plotted on a graph that is dependent on the child’s age and sex,” Adams said.

A child’s BMI has to be greater than the 95 percentile to be categorized as obese. To be considered overweight, they must be between the 85-95 percentile.

“That is based on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention growth charts,” Adams said. “Those are national standards.”

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey findings from two studies from 1976″"1980 and 2003″"04 indicate the childhood obesity is increasing. Children ages 2″"5 years showed a prevalent increase from 5 percent to 13.9 percent, and obesity rates in children between the ages of 6″"11 increased from 6.5 percent to 18.8 percent. The age range of 2″"19 years obesity also increased from 5 percent to 17.4 percent.