Medical College of Ga. receives $3.3 million to study child obesity

AUGUSTA - The Medical College of Georgia has received a $3.3 million grant from the National Institutes of Health to study childhood obesity. <br> <br> The money will be used for the FitKid Project, a research effort aimed to change the habits of about 300 third-graders in nine Richmond County schools for three years. <br> <br> Third-graders have been chosen because researchers say that tends to be the age when children&#39;s physical activity tends to decline and weight starts increasing. <br> <br> Each day after school, the children will stay active by participating in exercise programs that include aerobic activity to burn fat and strength training to build muscle. <br> <br> They also will have access to healthy snacks and will receive tutoring or help with homework. <br> <br> Researchers will measure the height, weight, cholesterol, body fat and blood pressure of the participants, and compare it to a control group of 300 children who are not part of the program.