EDITORIAL: W.Va. can turn its health misfortunes around

Health statistics suggest that there are children alive today who will live shorter lives than their parents because of the habits they are learning now — the foods they are conditioned to prefer, the lack of opportunities to form lifelong exercise habits. That can be changed through awareness and support.

EDITORIAL: When kids are active, they do better in school, period.

Kanawha Elementary gets kids active, having fun, during the half-hour before school when they would otherwise be sitting on bleachers. A great idea, proven by research to help kids focus and concentrate. School should look for such opportunities.

Leadership needed: W.Va. ranks first in heart attack, diabetes, eight other health categories

West Virginia’s high obesity rate is at the root of the state’s high diabetes and heart disease numbers, medical experts say.  Signs at the mouth of Cabin Creek in Chelyan highlight a modern dilemma.

W.Va. slammed with sugar: Deadly epidemic ‘exploding in front of us’

This disease causes heart attacks and leads to strokes, blindness, arm and leg amputations, nerve damage, kidney failure, liver failure. It kills people early. It’s starting to attack children. And it’s everywhere in West Virginia./