Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116827

Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, MD, MPH, Children's Memorial Hospital, Center for Obesity Management and Prevention, 2300 Children's Plaza, Box 157, Chicago, IL 60614-3394, 312-573-7769, kkauferchristoffel@northwestern.edu

Background: Children are affected by the obesity epidemic from early in life. In the last 30 years childhood overweight has tripled despite widespread knowledge that high fat/sugar/calorie diets, inactivity and obesity are unhealthy. New approaches can be guided by public health's ecological model. The health-led, community-driven Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC, www.clocc.net) aims to protect Chicago children from the obesity epidemic using a multi-level, multi-sector approach.

Methods: CLOCC's work encompasses children of all ages, with a prime individual level focus on children 3-5 years old (mainly because of the adiposity rebound). This focus holds the promise of primary prevention; it particularly involves clinicians and pre-schools. For young children, needed family level approaches encompass parents, caregivers, and siblings. Support for families is being built at the community level, working with CBOs. To enable community work and foster norms change, societal level work includes government institutions and corporate partners. CLOCC's staff supports 7 working groups, and is piloting local coalition development in 6 diverse communities.

Results: Since its 2003 founding, CLOCC has grown to >800 partners. Quarterly Meetings feature national speakers and draw 150+ participants. CLOCC has: conducted school based surveys establishing that 23% of children entering school have BMIs >95th percentile, issued 2 annual reports that inventory community resources that foster healthy lifestyles, distributed >$150,000 via seed grants and workgroup funding, and sponsored successful legislative initiatives. Public education and evaluation methods are evolving.

Discussion: CLOCC is one model for area-wide ecological work to reduce childhood obesity.

Learning Objectives:

• 1.Identify key elements of in the development and operations of a large, multi-sector coalition working to reduce childhood obesity in Chicago.
• 2.Assess the applicability of this model to other settings.
• 3.Articulate research and policy implications of this work.

Keywords: Children and Adolescents, Community Collaboration

Related Web page: www.clocc.net

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.