UTRGV Alumnus Combats Childhood Obesity Through Innovative Literacy Project

David Ceron’s “Fit-Lit” initiative featured on Dr. Phil and expanding to local schools and park installations

By Karen Villarreal

RIO GRANDE VALLEY, TEXAS – FEB. 4, 2025 – UTRGV alumnus David Ceron, writing under the pen name David Norec, is thrilled to see his book, ‘‘The Adventures of Exo and Cy,” available at Barnes & Noble and other retailers. More importantly, he’s excited that it’s getting children in the Rio Grande Valley reading and moving.

Ceron is adapting the story of Exo and Cy – a playful take on the word “exercise” – into a program called “Fit-lit,” which stands for Fitness Literacy. This in-school and park-based initiative aims to combat childhood diabetes while also addressing the region’s low literacy rates, effectively taking a “two birds with one stone” approach.

• In South Texas, 52-69% of adults lack basic literacy skills, compared to a 19% illiteracy rate statewide.
• Texas ranks ninth in the nation for childhood obesity and related illnesses.
• In 2020, one-fifth of Texas children aged 10-17 met the criteria for obesity.

“I don’t want any other families to go through what mine had to,” said Ceron, who lost a brother and sister to diabetes in 2013 and 2014, and another sister in 2024.

After developing prediabetes, which progressed to type 2 diabetes, he started making lifestyle changes. In 2017, he authored the first Fit-Lit book for children to share the lessons he wished he had learned sooner.

“Ultimately, I’m trying to change the way more people eat and exercise,” he said.

His book was selected in 2021 as H-E-B’s only non-food finalist in their Quest for Texas Best competition and appeared on the Apple TV show The Two-Minute Drill with David Meltzer. In 2024, Ceron was featured on the Dr. Phil Show and interviewed by Texas Monthly for an upcoming issue.

“When I wrote the book, I had no clue it would get this big,” said Ceron, who graduated from UTRGV in Fall 2024 with a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in Curriculum and Instruction with a Content Specialization in English.

He plans to continue giving back by authoring a sequel, expanding Fit-Lit, cohosting a convention for aspiring authors and organizing a 250-mile awareness walk.

GETTING KIDS MOVING

Ceron, from McAllen, Texas, understands the importance of teaching children healthy diet and exercise choices while they’re young, as they can still make impactful changes to their health. According to Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, severe obesity in children often requires medications, and class 2 and 3 obesity may require bariatric surgery as the primary intervention.

“Kids don’t need to get to that point,” Ceron said. “They can follow the story of Exo and his faithful Jack Russell terrier, Cy, and just throw diabetes and obesity out of the water.”

His visits to local elementary schools are interactive, with kids performing the same exercises as the characters to clean up their town, “O.B. City.” Ceron said he is collaborating with Region One ESC on an in-school program aimed at introducing Exo and Cy into physical education classes by Fall 2025. 

He is also developing “Fit-Lit Trail Tales,” a project that will feature his stories in public parks through installations of character-themed signage.

“Unidos Contra La Diabetes is sponsoring these parks in Rio Grande City, Edinburg and Harlingen,” Ceron said.  

GOING THE EXTRA MILE

Ceron has completed the next Fit-Lit book, titled “The Adventures of Aero and Bix.”

“As in, ‘aerobics,’” he explained. “It’s featuring a new villain, Candy Cane, and her best friend Marsha Mellow.”

Ceron said he recently found an illustrator and plans to unveil the cover art at the second South Texas Author Con on February 14 (schools) and 15 (for the public) in San Benito. As a co-organizer for the event, Ceron said he is always looking for ways to give back.

A personal project in honor of his family is also gaining traction. He originally planned a 250-mile diabetes-awareness walk from McAllen to San Antonio in November. He said the initiative has since expanded into a multi-cause community marathon walk, with support from numerous organizations.

“Part of it is for diabetes, part for suicide awareness, for spina bifida and for other causes,” he said.

Ceron said he wishes his siblings could see the fruits of his labor, and the impact they inspired. 

“Our family’s going to change things,” he said. “Even if we just save one life, that’s all that matters.”