The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #64171

Marilyn M. Gardner, PhD¹, Lisa K. Thomason¹, Jeffries L. Blackerby, MD², Tricia L. Callahan³, and Mary Kovar, RN, BSN⁴. (1) Department of Public Health, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, STH 410E, Bowling Green, KY 42101, 270.745.5864, marilyn.gardner@wku.edu, (2) Pediatric Associates of Bowling Green, 1211 Ashley Circle, Bowling Green, KY 42104, (3) Office of Sponsored Programs, Western Kentucky University, 1 Big Red Way, Bowling Green, KY 42101, (4) Health and Wellness Center, Medical Center, 2625 Scottsville Rd, Bowling Green, KY 42104

It is estimated that the prevalence of obesity and overweight among children in Kentucky is at or above the national average. Regional estimates of obesity and overweight have been as high as 33%. Complicating this problem is the scarcity of services and providers to effectively diagnose and treat obesity, as 83% of Kentucky’s counties have been designated as whole or partially medically underserved. In the spring of 2002, physicians, allied health care professionals, educators, and parents from the 10-county Barren River Area Development District (BRADD) in south central Kentucky convened and established the Childhood Obesity Resources Planning Project (CORPP). CORPP received a grant* to 1) conduct a thorough needs assessment and 2) establish a multidisciplinary network and referral system to combat the problem of pediatric obesity within the BRADD region. As part of the needs assessment, researchers are organizing focus groups and conducting surveys to identify and assess the resources and barriers associated with pediatric weight management, including attitudinal data of parents, physicians, and educators. To cultivate community buy-in and to foster local ownership of future interventions, researchers are forming coalitions within each county and are staging a regional symposium to disseminate the needs assessment data. Additionally, a regional resource guide is being compiled for reference.

*CORPP is funded by a Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) Planning Funds grant.

Learning Objectives:

At the conclusion of the session, the participant in the session will be able to:
• List potential community resources and barriers associated with pediatric weight management.
• Discuss attitudes of parents, physicians, and educators concerning pediatric obesity and weight management.
• Describe a multidisciplinary care plan for the treatment of pediatric obesity.

Keywords: Obesity, Weight Management

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.