LSU’s Pennington Biomedical Brings Science-Backed Program Into 32 Louisiana Schools, Preschools
March 12, 2025
Fighting Childhood Obesity
Greaux Healthy is a comprehensive, new program supported by the State of Louisiana that translates 35 years of Pennington Biomedical research into practical tools to prevent and treat childhood obesity. Designed to reach children in the environments they know best—both at school and at home—Greaux Healthy delivers a broad range of resources to teachers, parents, physicians, and others. So far, 21 elementary schools and 11 early childhood education centers across the state have implemented the program.
“Greaux Healthy is focused on the nutrition as well as the active part, which is what I like,” said Anderson Briggs, a physical education teacher at Glen Oaks Park Elementary in East Baton Rouge Parish. “A lot of my kids watch wrestling and football, so I ask them: ‘How can you become this type of athlete?’ ‘How do football players become strong?’ And now they say: ‘They eat a lot of protein,’ ‘They eat their vegetables.’ They’re making the connection of how eating healthy can lead to a type of lifestyle and career. They’re making the connection of how they can get there themselves.”
Louisiana ranks third in the nation for childhood obesity. As a result, the youngest generation of Louisianans is the first—ever—to have a lower life expectancy than their parents.
“Everything we recommend, there is science behind it,” said Melissa Martin, director of Greaux Healthy and a registered dietitian. “Greaux Healthy is about identifying as much opportunity as we can in our research and giving it all back to our state and communities. It’s about translating what works to the people who need it most.”
School children at play.
– Art by LSU student Nam Nguyen
“I've seen overweight children. I’ve seen kids with heart problems. We have kids that are severely diabetic. The Greaux Healthy program enhances what we’re trying to do to get the kids more healthy and more aware of their health.”
Carmonesia Hill, physical education teacher at Progress Elementary School in Scotlandville