About Smart Bodies

Smart Bodies is an interactive educational program designed to help prevent childhood obesity through classroom activities that teach children healthy eating habits and physical exercise.  Smart Bodies is a public/private partnership between the state’s largest university system and largest health insurer.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana and the LSU AgCenter, a statewide campus of research and extension outreach in the LSU system have joined forces to improve the health of children throughout the state. The Smart Bodies Program began in January 2006 and is scheduled through December 2010.

Smart Bodies is an innovative 3-part program of nutrition and physical activities that are integrated into core curriculum academics to prevent children from becoming overweight or obese. This program targets children in grades K-5 and consists of three components:

• Louisiana Body Walk
• The OrganWise Guys ®
• Take 10! ® Classroom Program

Why Smart Bodies?

Childhood obesity is epidemic in Louisiana and the United States. Overweight and obese children are at risk for Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, depression, cardiovascular disease, and other serious health problems. The epidemic of obesity in children can only be confronted through comprehensive health programs designed to educate and change behaviors in a variety of settings.

What the teachers and students are saying about components of the Smart Bodies program:

• “This is a great program. It helps students learn in a fun way.”
• “I loved this program. The students always wanted to do a Take 10!”
• “Using the videos reinforced positive healthy behaviors; they are
entertaining and educational.”
• “Children loved seeing the OrganWise Guys singing and dancing.”
• “This program makes learning and staying healthy fun.”
• “My students enjoyed the program and never let me forget to take time out for it.”

Request Smart Bodies

Online requesting of the Smart Bodies program is available here.