“Charlotte, Get Your Move On!” officially launched June 2 at UNC Charlotte (UNCC) with the world premiere of the movie “The Fat Boy Chronicles.” It’s based on the book, which tells the story of 14-year-old Jimmy who is battling obesity and bullying in his first year of high school.
CMS, as well as Mayor Anthony Foxx and his wife Samara, UNCC, Teen Health Connection and Sleeping Bear Press partnered to create the health and wellness initiative, which is based on the “Let’s Move” campaign being promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Inspired by a true story, “The Fat Boy Chronicles” follows Jimmy’s struggle as he deals with obesity and bullying. At the launch of Charlotte, Get Your Move On!, the book’s authors, movie director and actors participated in a panel discussion.
“We wrote the book because we wanted to address the physical and emotional struggles that kids go through each day in school,” said co-author Mike Buchanan. “The book and movie can be an avenue for parents, teachers and students to discuss the issues openly so that kids and future generations can have a healthier lifestyle.”
Studies have shown that overweight and obese children are more likely to be bullied in school. As recently as a month ago, the Journal of the American Academy of Pediatricians published a study from the University of Michigan which concluded “the child who was obese was simply more likely to be bullied than the child who was not.”
The book and the movie can help bring important issues into focus so that’s why CMS is using it in its curriculum. All CMS eighth graders began reading the book in May after the End-of-Grade testing.
“I see bullying happen in school every day,” said McKenzie Moss, who is an eighth-grader at Bradley Middle School. “As people start reading the book, they will see themselves as Jimmy or the person who is bullying Jimmy. It will make bullies understand that this is how they make that person feel.”
Data from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey indicate 43 percent of CMS middle-school students are trying to lose weight and 39 percent reported being bullied on school property in 2009, up from 26 percent two years earlier. And 52 percent say they’ve been the victim of teasing or name-calling because of weight, size or physical appearance. Although reports of bullying for high school students declined to 16 percent in 2009, down from 20 percent in 2007, nearly half of them think that bullying is a problem at their school. Twenty-seven percent – up from 21 percent two years ago – have been the victim of teasing or name-calling because of weight, size or appearance.
“The book will help promote discussion of issues like obesity and bullying, so our students get valuable information and learn tolerance,” said Dr. Peter C. Gorman, superintendent of CMS. “We also know that healthy students learn better and academic achievement is our top goal.”
Bradley Middle School’s choral and dance team also participated at the wellness launch. They led a flash mob to the song “Take Your Health Into Your Own Hands.” The song was created by CMS educators Mark Propst, Becky Graf, Darla Barker and Kim Golden to support the district’s initiative to fight obesity.
Upcoming Charlotte, Get Your Move On! event
Parent University will host a parent/teen dialogue on "The Fat Boy Chronicles" held at First Baptist Church-Huntersville (119 N Old Statesville Road, Huntersville) on Thursday, Aug. 26 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. To register for the workshop, call 980-343-0318 or click here.