A coalition of health groups and insurance companies on Thursday announced an initiative to reduce childhood obesity, the Washington Post reports. The initiative aims to give children better access to health care to control obesity, according to officials of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The alliance is a joint effort of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation.

According to the Post, "One of the biggest problems many families face in fighting obesity is getting insurance companies to pay for doctor visits and other care to help deal with the problem." Insurance companies participating in the initiative would cover at least four visits annually to both a dietitian and a physician so that children and parents can learn how to better manage lifestyles and reduce and control weight (Stein, Washington Post, 2/20). Children's weight and body mass also would be monitored consistently. According to the Raleigh News & Observer, the move "signifies growing concern about the steep financial consequences of preventable health problems that often begin in childhood" (Murawski, Raleigh News & Observer, 2/20).

Organizers estimate the initiative will benefit about one million children in the first year and more than six million within three years. Insurers BlueCross BlueShield of North Carolina, BlueCross BlueShield of Massachusetts, Aetna and WellPoint have joined the initiative, and several companies, including PepsiCo, Owens Corning and Paychex, will offer the benefit to children of their employees (Washington Post, 2/20).

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