Atlanta, Gwinnett elementary schools get $289,000 in fitness grants

Twenty nine elementary schools in Atlanta and Gwinnett County will get activity trackers and other resources to help students be fit and healthy.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia Foundation last week gave $289,000 to HealthMPowers, a local nonprofit dedicated to promoting healthy behavior and environments for schoolchildren, for the program in those two school districts.

The students will use the activity trackers to monitor their physical fitness during the day while they’re at school. Educators and others have been concerned about the higher percentage of students who are overweight due to unhealthy eating habits and lack of physical activity.