- Video: Teens turn to Web to help fight obesity
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"Obesity is a problem that's affecting teens and what better way to reach other teens than by teens themselves," said Ruben Brambila of Youth Activism Against Obesity.
Some local high school students have spent the last year creating a social networking Web site called /*WereFedUp.com*/, aimed at getting teens to improve their health by talking about weight issues and recognizing what the root problems of /*obesity*/ are.
"We come to perceive fast food as good and healthy for us because no one is there to stop us from eating it," said Britanni Marie Dighero of Youth Activism Against Obesity. "Sometimes it's all our parents can afford, not to mention it's convenient."
We're Fed Up features areas where teens can blog about weight problems, share healthy recipes and post photos and fitness tips. The goal is to have kids make healthy choices about what they eat.
A poor diet isn't the only reason for teen obesity. Many lower income neighborhoods have no groceries stores, but plenty of fast food restaurants. Plus, community parks are not maintained and offer little motivation to exercise.
"Our fields here are gated or the grass is messed up so it's not really a healthy place to exercise," said Juan Valdivia, a We're Fed Up team member.
We're Fed Up is the work of students from Baldwin Park and the Accelerated School in South L.A. But it's open to students everywhere. In fact, they've already had teens register from other countries.
- Link: wereFedUp.com
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