Childhood obesity is a growing national and local public health issue. Data collected between 1995 and 1996 in Charlottesville, Virginia indicated that one-third of 1,200 third graders attending area public schools were overweight (defined as 95th percentile, weight for height). Fifty percent of students in three urban schools were overweight, a majority whom were African-American girls.
In 1999, the Thomas Jefferson Health District convened a task force with community, health care, recreation and human service representatives to address the issue of childhood obesity at the community level guided by the following objectives:
1) Identify contributing factors to obesity among children in the local health district; 2) Determine policies or strategies to address contributing factors at a community level; and 3) Develop a plan for implementing and evaluating one or more proposed strategies.
This presentation will summarize the steps taken to move the task force from analysis to action in order to make the reduction of childhood obesity a community priority.
Learning Objectives: As a result of the presentation, the participant will be able to: 1. Articulate the rationale for making childhood obesity a community priority. 2. Describe the process for helping community representatives decide what risk factors can be impacted on a community level. 3. Identify at least two strategies that a community can implement to address the issue of childhood obesity
Keywords: Child Health, Obesity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Thomas Jefferson Health District
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by Thomas Jefferson Health District as Nutrition Consultant