Carol Stream students dance toward good health

Students at Carol Stream School got a health lesson and dance party in one on Friday afternoon during an event aimed at encouraging good nutrition and exercise.

Representatives from Central DuPage Hospital led a gymnasium full of kindergarten through fifth graders in stretching exercises. Once the dancing started, promotions staff from B96 radio shared health tips between songs. And students who said they ate fruit at lunch got free T-shirts.

The party was sponsored by FORWARD — Fighting Obesity Reaching healthy Weight Among Residents of DuPage — a community coalition that promotes healthy lifestyles.

“It’s a great opportunity for us to give our students an opportunity to have a fun time and celebrate the importance of physical movement,” Principal Susan Grady said.

Tammy Pressley, director of community and government affairs at CDH, said a similar event is planned for a school in Addison next month.

“We know as a hospital that poor nutrition and physical activity is really impacting community health,” Pressley said. “Obesity in the county and nation is a very pressing public health issue.”