Oral

From 1980 to 2006 the prevalence of obesity has doubled among children aged 6 to 11 and tripled among adolescents aged 12 to 19. Childhood obesity is a national epidemic that has economic, social and health ramifications that will affect us all if this trend is not reversed. This session will discuss methods and strategies utilized in attempt to combat overweight and obesity in infants, children, and communities. Establishing healthy eating behaviors and increasing physical activity are necessary primary steps for preventing obesity. Information presented in this session will include: direction for implementing a community-based infant overweight prevention project; discussion of the importance of family involvement in a childhood weight loss program and description of a module for a childhood weight loss program that can be incorporated into any community; description of the process of establishing a sustainable collaborative community-based program to prevent obesity among Latino families; and a description of the BODY Project, an innovative approach to addressing the obesity epidemic among youth.

Session Objectives: Describe the process of implementing overweight and obesity prevention projects among various populations. Program components and evaluation methods will also be discussed. Describe how to adapt communications tools to meet needs of target audience while retaining key messages and recognize approaches to advancing community change by ensuring effective communications tools.

CE Credits: Medical (CME), Health Education (CHES), Nursing (CNE), Public Health (CPH)