Sugar Free Kids and UnitedHealthcare Hold Sugar Rush Event

On Wednesday, Sugar Free Kids Maryland and UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland educated local families about the importance of healthy food and beverage choices at New Waverly Methodist Church in Baltimore.

The “Maryland Sugar Rush” event included a panel of community leaders and health experts including Brandon Scott, Baltimore City Councilmember; Rev. Kevin Slayton, pastor, New Waverly United Methodist Church; Ricarra Jones, political organizer, 1199SEIU; Dr. Richard Bruno, public health committee chair, MedChi; and Irene Myers-Thompson, regional wellness director, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland.

In Maryland, more than one-third of children are unable to maintain a healthy weight, according to UnitedHealth Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings report. The report found that Type 2 diabetes, tooth decay and diet-related health problem remain significant issues.

Additional Maryland Sugar Rush events are planned for Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties in 2018.