Addressing Youth Obesity and Activity Levels: Health ambassadors have gone into high school and elementary school classes to discuss the long-term implications of inactivity and poor nutrition, and the importance of early adoption of good lifestyle habits. These information sessions have also spawned walking challenges with students in some locations.

"I did my first presentation today! I was super nervous but I rocked! The teacher told me it's the best presentation from the university so far. The students were interested and they loved the pedometers!"

"The pedometers were a real wake-up call – they were surprised to find how little activity they do actually do. They're realizing that they need to add in that physical activity. It doesn't just happen in their day between 9 and 3:30."

"They never thought of it as something that applies to them. But if you connect the facts of heart and stroke with their own experience of ailing relatives, some of them start to make the connection between where they are right now, and where they want to be six, seven, or eight decades down the road."

"We need to addict them to healthy choices as much as we can. It's hard because there's so much advertising and pressure for the bad stuff. Moving feels good! Good food tastes good! Put down the pop! Get away from that video game!"

Click here for more information on starting stroke prevention activities in your community.