In America, 1 out of 3 children are obese or overweight, and between the years of 2011-2014, nearly 12.7 million children and adolescents aged 2-19 years were considered overweight. 80% of overweight adolescents grow up to be obese adults and are, therefore, more at risk for health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, several types of cancer and osteoarthritis. Furthermore, overweight five-year-olds have a tenfold increased risk of becoming obese adults compared to five-year-olds that are considered to be of a normal weight.

Economically, a National Business Group on Health report on claims data shows that the annual health care expenses for an obese child is $3,547 compared to $1,346 for a normal weight child, and a greater percentage of obese children receive treatment for a variety of health conditions compared to non-obese children. Even more shocking, claims data shows a child with type II diabetes is $10,789 in annual health care expenses. In total, health cost for employers exceeds $14 billion annually.

To improve the long-term health and reduce the impact of diabetes in children and family members through the use of mobile engagement platform which aids participants in learning healthy eating and exercise habits to achieve weight loss and BMI reduction.

MiHIA is implementing the Kurbo Health program. The virtual intervention will address long-term health outcomes and reduce impact of obesity and diabetes in children (ages 5-19 years) and their families in central Michigan through one of the most effective and well-researched programs for children, the “Traffic Light Diet”.

Kurbo