Purdue News
Purdue News
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June 16, 2004 Purdue, Imagination Station team up to fight youth obesityWEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - Purdue University and the Imagination Station of Lafayette, Ind., have joined forces to educate local youths about the importance of good nutrition and exercise habits. "Watch Your Weight and Make Healthy Choices," an interactive exhibit designed by Purdue's Agricultural Communication department and targeted at raising obesity awareness, has opened at the Imagination Station, Lafayette's hands-on family science center, located at 600 N. Fourth St. "We're giving kids the tools to stop a trend," said Lisa Huenink, executive director of the Imagination Station. "What we're trying to do is raise awareness and teach young people to incorporate healthy eating and exercise into their everyday life." Bill Evers, a Purdue Extension nutrition specialist, was a driving force behind the exhibit, which was part of the Purdue display at the Our Land Pavilion at the Indiana State Fair last year. The exhibit encourages museum visitors to get active, eat appropriate portion sizes and follow the food guide pyramid. The exhibit includes an area for practicing exercises, such as jumping jacks and sit-ups, and incorporates a video and a real-life version of the food guide pyramid - a 3-D Plexiglas exhibit containing actual food. Museum hours are 1 to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and Sunday; and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. Admission is $4 for adults, $3 for children ages 3 to 12. More information about the Imagination Station is available online. Writer: Kay Hagen, (765) 494-6682, kjh@purdue.edu Source: Lisa Huenink, (765) 420-7780, lisah@imagination-station.org Ag Communications: (765) 494-8396; Beth Forbes, (765) 494-2722forbes@purdue.edu
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