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For immediate release
Oct. 16, 2006
Park’s newest tenant fighting childhood obesity
Richmond, Va. – The Virginia BioTechnology Research Park announces its newest tenant, Life for Kids, to its incubator facility.
According to Mike Heppert, president of Life for Kids, the company has developed a product that will help to encourage physical activity in the daily lives of children. “The Life for Kids Physical Activity Rewards System (PARS) is a patented tool that will help parents keep their children motivated to participate in ongoing physical activity by allowing them proportionate time for other activities such as watching television and playing video games.”
The product looks like a normal sports watch; however, the device also monitors physical activity through heart rate. The measurement of time spent in physical activity can be transferred to an electricity control unit, which allows a specific amount of electricity to flow to the TV, computer or video game depending on the physical activity levels recorded on the device. Once the measurement is used up, no more electricity will flow and no more viewing time will be allowed.
Dr. Richard Atkinson, president and co-founder of the American Obesity Association and president of Obetech LLC, agrees that developing healthy behavior early in life can help to prevent childhood obesity and future weight problems in adolescence.
“About 15.5 percent of adolescents (ages 12 to 19) and 15.3 percent of children (ages 6 to 11) are obese, a percentage that continues to increase at a dramatic rate,” commented Atkinson, whose company also is located at the BioTech Park. “Healthy behaviors involving physical activity and nutrition are the cornerstone of preventing obesity. Life for Kids’ system is a great way to help parents teach their children healthy habits at a very young age.”
The company is currently in the process of developing their first prototype and plans to have the product on the market by late 2008.
About the Park:
Situated on 34 acres adjacent to VCU’s medical campus, the Park is currently home to a unique mix of more than 55 technology companies, research institutes affiliated with the VCU Medical Center, and major state and national medical laboratories. After completion of the new $350 million Philip Morris USA Center for Research and Technology, the Park will encompass 1.2 million square feet of space in nine buildings and employ more than 2,000 industry professionals.
Contact:
Nicky Colomb
Virginia BioTechnology Research Park
Phone: (804) 828-6884
E-mail: ncolomb@vabiotech.com
Web site: www.vabiotech.com
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