Healthy and Active Before 5: Developing a Comprehensive Action Plan to Reduce Early Childhood Obesity

This session will focus on rationale for, and components of a successful multi-sectorial collaborative dedicated to preventing obesity in children ages 0 –5. The plan was initiated after community advocates in Contra Costa County concluded that early childhood eating habits, activity and parental attitudes were critical components in preventing both pediatric obesity and chronic disease later in life. A diverse partnership, led by an executive committee and community leadership council and staffed by the Prevention Institute, formulated a comprehensive plan focused on environmental changes supporting healthy choices in a young child's life. The Healthy and Active Before 5 Action Plan describes eight evidence-based principles that emerged from a review of the literature and the ENACT tool, bi-lingual parent focus groups and a survey of 200 professionals. The process culminated in a summit with 170 participants. Major stakeholders in the initiative have made significant commitments to taking action within their spheres of influence.

To date, identified outcomes of the planning process and summit include: changes in local hospital breastfeeding policies; improvements in health center vending machine policies; and enhanced community advocacy for age-appropriate recreational facilities and programs for young children. Local and state level legislators are working with the group to pursue healthier local child care environments, improved identification and counseling of overweight children by health care providers, and breastfeeding policies for local employers. The process also served to clarify policy priorities which include local menu labeling, product placement policies and policies supporting a health component in the planning of local city environments.

Participants in this session will be able to apply the lessons learned to their 0 – 5 population, one that has been missing in many obesity prevention plans, policies and practices.