The Southeast Georgia Childhood Obesity Taskforce was initiated by the Satilla Health Foundation, the Southeast Health District, and Ware County Public Health in 2007. When the taskforce initially met, more than 80 professionals from 13 counties in Southeast Georgia, including school nurses, social workers, nutritionists, teachers, pediatricians, fitness experts and city and county managers committed to end childhood obesity in their communities and build a healthier future for their children. The goal of the taskforce was for communities to develop partnerships and action plans to help both children and adults to adopt healthy eating habits and to increase physical activity. During the work sessions each county began to develop a policy or environmental intervention to address the obesity issue. Members agreed that reversing poor health practices that have become accepted lifestyles for generations of southeast Georgians would be challenging, but they were confident that their work would result in healthier and better communities.

Ware County developed its own Childhood Obesity Taskforce as a result of that regional meeting. The Ware County Taskforce is 30 members strong and has met quarterly since 2007. Their efforts have significantly raised awareness for the issue of childhood obesity in Ware County and the importance of healthy lifestyles. In 2009, the Ware taskforce and Waycross Main Street received a grant from the Southeast Health District to develop the Downtown Waycross Walking Tour/Trail. The one-mile trail is marked throughout the Main Street district. Brochures, pedometers and educational packets are available for groups to use along the trail. In 2010, the taskforce adopted a new name Satilla KIDS — Kids Improving and Developing Soundly — further strengthening their commitment to building a healthy community.

A study released by the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine in May 2010 reported that the Southeast had the highest instances of obese and overweight kids. Eighteen percent of Georgia youth (9th – 12th grades) are overweight and another 14% are obese, according to 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data. One in three middle school students are at risk for being overweight, and one in four high school students are at risk. A person is considered obese when they are 20% or more over their normal body weight. Obesity is a preventable risk factor of Cardiovascular Disease including heart disease, stroke, hypertension, and diabetes. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in Georgia and Ware County. Tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor diet are the actual causes leading to cardiovascular disease. Satilla KIDS is an effort to reverse the upward spiral of obesity in our region and move Ware County into the future as a healthy, active, thriving community.