To combat widespread obesity and lack of health insurance, West Virginia has become the first in the country to use federal dollars to provide comprehensive health screenings for kindergartners without health insurance.

The screenings — which will check everything from vision and hearing to diabetes to emerging obesity — will be provided to roughly 1,100 children entering kindergarten this fall at a cost of around $160,000.  Investment in the pilot program, were it to become successful and implemented throughout the state, should pay dividends, since the state’s Medicaid agency spends about $100 million on obesity-related costs annually. 

Rates of obesity and heart disease in West Virginia are among the highest in the country.  The problem stems from poor physical exercise and healthy eating habits which become dangerous for the large number of residents who rarely or never see a doctor.  According the U.S. Census figures, about 245,000 residents of the 1.8 million have no health insurance.  Read Article Source...