A Sinclairville native has been named one of five winners of the President’s Council on Sports, Fitness & Nutrition’s 2019 Lifetime Achievement Award.

Debra Kibbe has been recognized for her her contributions to the advancement and promotion of physical activity, fitness, and nutrition for children for more than 20 years in Georgia. Judging criteria included the scope of her career, the reach of her work, and the impact of her legacy.

“Debbie has been a constant and driving force greatly contributing to the advancement and promotion of physical activity, fitness, and nutrition among millions of the nation’s young people,” says Karen Minyard, CEO of the Georgia Health Policy Center. “She is a leader, scientist, convener, facilitator, and role model. Perhaps, though, she is most recognized in the state for connecting people, programs, and partners to ensure maximum impact.”

Reflective of the multiple drivers of childhood obesity, Kibbe’s career has employed a multifaceted approach to developing solutions to address childhood obesity, addressing a wide range of factors, policies, systems, and environments that influence what foods and opportunities for physical activity are available to children.

Highlights of her career include:

¯ Leading the development of TAKE10, a classroom-based physical activity program to get kids moving without taking away from their academic learning time.

¯ Playing a key role in the nationally recognized Georgia Shape initiative, including work that led to passing of the Georgia Student Health and Physical Education (SHAPE) Act, requiring annual fitness testing in schools, and helping Georgia improve their national rank for prevalence of childhood obesity.

¯ Aiding the development of Get Healthy Together, a program to reduce childhood obesity in community-based WIC programs, which was adopted as best practice and disseminated nationally by the Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs.

“Every kid that gets healthier is a win,” Kibbe said. “There are an estimated 13.7 million children in the United States that are obese. No other health concern impacts so many children. To address obesity and inactivity, we need all hands on deck.”