S.T.A.R.T. Summary

Smart Treats Are Responsible Treats (S.T.A.R.T.) is a major initiative to get Americans to make a cultural shift to celebrate with responsible treats (non-food) and to focus on Childhood Obesity. As parents of five children, Halloween always caused my wife and I concerns. The major concern was the issue of the 'traditional' focus on candy. With one in three children in America being affected by Childhood Obesity and Halloween being a major cultural contributor, something had to change. This then led to the question, “Why can't we do something different?” From this evolved the initiative of S.T.A.R.T.

We wanted to act, to take this idea that just made sense and move forward. In 2007, we organized and registered as a Domestic Non-Profit Organization with the State of Utah. It is our belief that in order for our initiative to be successful, we need not only parents and kids to be on board, but communities must also play a key role. This idea's time has come.

S.T.A.R.T. is a mark that is focused on Childhood Obesity and the diseases caused by Childhood Obesity. We believe we will have a significant impact. The facts surrounding Childhood Obesity are shocking and only in the past few years been publicized; one in three children are or will be affected, more than 93% of middle/junior high schools in America fail to provide any kind of daily physical activity. This very well may be the first generation that doesn’t outlive its parents’ generation. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that for the year 2008, the money spent on health care related to obesity in the United States exceeded $147 billion dollars. S.T.A.R.T. wants to bring attention to this and give people a recognizable ‘flag’ to salute through alternative treats and programming.

Over the past few years, around the nation there have been organizations and programs established to work with Childhood Obesity. Their efforts are laudable and should be commended. However, the efforts are falling short with regards to bringing a focused, directed campaign that targets Childhood Obesity. The efforts are not coordinated and there is not a national focus. This is what has been missing from most of these programs.

Halloween has historically been a children’s holiday that emphasizes candy treats. For a nation that is slowing recognizing the problems of obesity in its children, it is at best inconsistent, and at worse, deadly. By utilizing the concept of ‘treat responsibly’ at Halloween and drawing attention to the need to scale back on the Halloween treats passed out, we can cause people to focus and hear a message. Our solution is to utilize alternative non-food treats, treats that kids like and even prefer to candy, like music downloads. Much like Mothers’ Day brings a focus on being kind to mothers and recognizing them, S.T.A.R.T. is something that can do the same for Childhood Obesity. It is something that communities and businesses can support and promote (businesses can utilize the mark as something they can use to further their corporate social responsibly).

This is an opportunity to move forward, to bring attention to a problem that is, or will have a greater impact on America medically and financially than any other health issue. We just need to bring a focus, a ‘rally ‘round the flag’, and that flag is S.T.A.R.T. We can do it.

 

Paul Marsh, CEO/Founder of S.T.A.R.T.