Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/obesity/index.html

The Epidemic
57% of Florida adults are overweight or obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
26% of Florida high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC YRBSS, 2003)
17% of non-Hispanic white adults, 31% of non-Hispanic black adults, and 21% of Hispanic adults in Florida are obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
The obesity rate among Florida adults increased by 43% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)

Program Priorities
A 3-year statewide strategic plan for combating obesity has been completed by the Florida Partnership for Promoting Physical Activity and Healthful Nutrition (FPPPAHN), a statewide coalition of more than 100 members including health-care professionals, community organizations, interdepartmental programs, and interested citizens. The plan consists of six goals:

To slow the rise of overweight and obesity
To increase lifelong physical activity
To improve nutrition across the lifespan
To establish public policies that support the goal of reducing and preventing overweight and obesity
To improve the health of people who are overweight or obese
To build and sustain the Florida Partnership itself
One intervention is currently being pilot tested:

A physical activity intervention uses multiple approaches to increase physical activity among public school students in Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Suwannee, and Union counties. (Those five counties were identified as having the highest prevalence rates in the state for cardiovascular disease among adults.) Pedometers have been provided for every student, teacher, and non-instructional staff member in eight middle schools in the five-county region. Articles providing health tips have been provided for inclusion in monthly newsletters. Incentive items are provided every 9 weeks to grade levels with the highest step count during the evaluation period. Stipends are being provided to schools for their participation in collecting the log sheets and keeping the students engaged in the intervention. The program hopes to see improvements in the number of steps students take each day.

Partners
All Children's Hospital
American Heart Association
American Diabetes Association
Children’s Medical Services
Florida Alliance of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Florida Area Health Education Centers
Florida Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance
Florida Dairy Council
Florida Departments of Education and Law Enforcement
Florida Dietetic Association
Florida International University
Florida Medical Association
Florida Osteopathic Medical Association
Florida Parent Teachers Association
Florida Recreation and Parks Department
Florida School Food Service Association
Florida School Nurses Association
Florida State University
Florida School Nurses Association
Florida Department of Health’s Diabetes and Arthritis Prevention and Control programs
Florida WIC program
HEBNI Nutrition
Hispanic Health Initiatives
Gainesville Health and Fitness Center
Little Havana Senior Center
Reaching U Network
St. James Council of Church Based Health Programs
University of Florida Institute of Food, Nutrition and Science
University of South Florida School of Public Health and Prevention Research Center
Well-Spring Prevention Center
Recent Accomplishments and Products
The Governor's Task Force on the Obesity Epidemic developed 22 recommendations targeting physical activity and nutrition for families, communities, schools, and work sites. An envelope for mailing WIC voucher checks was developed that includes information about 5 A Day recommendations.
Seventeen county health departments have been funded to implement policy and environmental changes focusing on improvements in physical activity, healthy nutrition, and obesity prevention.
Through a contract with the Florida AHEC (Area Health Education Centers) Network, peer counseling training was provided for community health workers using the Loving Support Breast-feeding curriculum.
An employee wellness initiative — Health inSite — was developed to promote good health among state and other public and private employees. Activities include health walks, Lunch and Learn educational programs, Take the Stairs point-of-interest prompts, promotion of fruit and vegetable consumption through 5 A Day challenges, and a pedometer loan program.
A 5 a Day the Florida Way curriculum and campaign materials were distributed to 5 A Day coordinators in every county health department.
A Florida Kids Walk to School Day was sponsored by the program in collaboration with Florida State University and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.
A statewide walk to promote physical activity and healthy lifestyles took place as part of the Step Up Florida campaign.

Upcoming Events and Products
Media campaigns using billboard advertisements, radio public service announcements, and Direct Hit advertising.
Expansion of the state plan from 3 years to 5.
Professional education audio teleconference programs on eating disorders and obesity, physical activity, and breast-feeding.
Professional education video teleconference on practical approaches to treatment of pediatric obesity.
Release of 2003 Youth Physical Activity and Nutrition Survey (YPANS) data, a survey that focused on physical activity opportunities, nutrition choices, and sedentary behaviors among middle school students.
Evaluation of first-year overweight and obesity prevention activities, as identified and recommended by the University of South Florida, for the five counties in northeast Florida participating in the physical activity intervention pilot study.
5th Annual Obesity Conference.
Project Period: 2003–2008
Year First Funded: 2001
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Cathy Brewton, MS
Program Coordinator
Florida Department of Health
Telephone: 850-245-4330 Ext. 2834
Fax: 850-414-6625
E-mail: cathy_brewton@doh.state.fl.us
Web site: http://www.doh.state.fl.us/family/obesity/index.html*


Data Sources
CDC BRFSS — CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
CDC PedNSS — CDC’s Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System
CDC YRBSS — CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System

[Obesity Discussion]

Article published May 14, 2006
HEALTH program targets obesity among children
By Marci Elliott
DEMOCRAT STAFF WRITER

It's a different type of program that needs a special kind of teacher.

Project HEALTH - which stands for Health Education and Life-Transforming Habits - is about to kick off a new year this fall, and it needs to get those teachers on board now.

The project is a pilot study to prevent obesity and diabetes among children and adolescents. It was founded in 2002 by Dr. Joseph Webster, a local gastroenterologist and surgeon, but wasn't implemented until February, said program manager Tiffany Simpkins.

"We didn't get the right people we needed until now," Simpkins said last week. "It's different from other programs because it focuses on teaching thinking skills that will last throughout your lifetime."

Sandra Allen, station manager for the city of Tallahassee's WCOT television station, is Project HEALTH's chairwoman and a firm believer in the program.

"It's an ongoing education. It's been presented to the Leon County School Board, the city of Tallahassee and other (agencies) and has been very well received," Allen said. "The thrust we're looking for now is to recruit teachers to undergo training to be able to teach children in this project."

To find teachers willing to participate, Project HEALTH will have a booth in the May 19-20 Emancipation Day celebration at the Walker Ford Community Center, 2301 Pasco St.

Participating teachers will attend a training program led by professional Lester Brown of LL Brown International of Seattle.

The teacher participation is voluntary and will be limited to one-hour sessions one day a week with children after school at four sites to begin with: Nims Middle School, Rickards High School, Bond-Wesson Elementary School and FAMU High. While these are predominantly black schools, the program is not limited to black students and teachers.

"Students will start being tracked and monitored in September," Simpkins said.

Webster said he got the idea for Project HEALTH from Clinton Byrd, one of his board members, who told him the childhood obesity issue was "getting out of hand."

Webster came up with the concept of life-transforming habits - the key that sets his program apart from others focused solely on diet and eating patterns.

"Knowledge alone is not the answer," Webster said. "There has to be a different way of thinking to make it work."

Project HEALTH is a five-year program, he said. Obviously, nutrition and diet will be a part of it, but not approached the same way as in traditional weight-loss programs.

Since Webster founded Project HEALTH four years ago, its major source of funding has come out of his own pocket.

But now the program will begin looking for grants and contributions to keep it afloat.

"We need help. We need funding," he said. "It's a great project, but Dr. Webster needs help."

HOW TO HELP
What: Volunteer teacher recruitment for Project HEALTH

When: May 19-20

Where: Emancipation Celebration booth, Walker Ford Community Center, 2301 Pasco St.

Information: Call the Project HEALTH office at (850) 877-3783 or visit www.projecthealth04@ aol.com




Article

[Obesity Discussion]

School fights obesity
Students, teachers at Bellview Middlemake healthier eating, fitness top goal


Angela Fail
@PensacolaNewsJournal.com

As students fill their lunch trays today, cafeteria employees throughout the nation will cross their fingers for the veggies.

Today marks the start of National School Lunch Week, a chance for teachers and administrators to re-evaluate one simple, educational truth:

Healthy bodies produce healthy minds.

In Escambia County, three schools already are working to prove this.

Bellview Middle, Weis Elementary and Pensacola High were selected as three of 48 Florida schools to pilot the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy School Program. The program began in Escambia County this school year.

The alliance formed last year to combat the youth obesity epidemic. The program is a joint initiative between the William J. Clinton Foundation and the American Heart Association.

Childhood obesity rates jumped to all-time national highs in 2000, according to the most recent report by American Obesity Association. Obesity plagues at least 15 percent of U.S. children and adolescents, leading to Type 2 diabetes, among other health concerns.

Locally, diabetes sits atop a growing list of health problems. A July study by the Partnership for a Healthy Community revealed the mortality rate of diabetic residents in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties nearly doubles the state average.

That's a bleak reality for the youngest of residents, said Victoria Gibowski, Bellview Middle School principal.

"This is the first generation that may not outlive their parents," Gibowski said.

Pilot schools focus on three areas: nutrition, physical activity and staff wellness.

At Bellview, a schoolwide overhaul targeted the waistlines and well-being of every student and staff member.

No more pizza and french fries for lunch. Cafeteria employees allow only one junk food at a time. If a child chooses pizza, he or she is getting a salad to go with it.

"The world did not come crashing down," said Gary Lincoln, school counselor. "They aren't going to go hungry."

Seventh-grader Stefani Taylor, 12, said the squash salad wasn't half bad.

"Some things look kind of gross," she said. "But they taste good."

A $25,000 conveyer oven brings more taste to the table, baking traditionally deep-fried finger foods like chicken nuggets and potato skins.

Staff members started a breakfast campaign two weeks ago, offering whole grains and fruits -- and an admitted doughnut or two -- to start the school day.

Within a week, school nurse Lori Shanahan treated half as many children for stomach pains and headaches.

By Friday, the clinic's overall traffic average -- 100 students a day -- came down to 60, Shanahan said. She's convinced breakfast worked the magic.

Danielle Fulton, 13, is sold, too.

If she didn't eat breakfast at school, Danielle either wouldn't eat or would stop by McDonald's.

"The school food is better," she said. "It keeps me up. I usually fall asleep during class."

A revised fitness program also pumps up energy levels. Band and chorus no longer save students from the locker room. At least 75 percent of the 1,200 students take P.E. every day (225 minutes a week), Gibowski said. Exemptions come for academic remediation only.

Fitness instructor Rayeko McCartan evaluates each student on a fitness report card. As classes learn new sports, run the half-mile track and stretch, McCartan tracks progress in cardiovascular health and flexibility.

In the classroom, teachers give students stretching breaks. Sounds trivial, but Shanahan said every active minute counts.

"Any time you can get helps," she said. "Five minutes at the beginning of class, whatever. It's the simplest thing you can do to improve overall health."

A slew of new after-school activities prevents the time-sucking doom of X-box addiction.

Students learn African dances, make movies, take photographs.

"It's better than them sitting there, working their thumbs," McCartan said.

If students start to feel lazy, they have a staff of role models to re-energize them.

Teachers and faculty members underwent health department assessments. Ask them about healthy habits, and they'll spit out facts about body fat percentages and the merits of the updated food pyramid.

The teachers' lounge vending machines were stripped of calorie-laden snacks.

Staff members measured the inner perimeter of the school to make a "track" for those who couldn't handle the humidity during outdoor exercise.

"We want them to either quit a bad habit or start a new one," Lincoln said.

Eighth-grader Roger Dykes, 14, noticed the changes in his teachers.

"They're cracking down on everything," he said. "We can't get all the good stuff anymore. But we know they're looking out for us, for our health."

Childhood Obesity fight in Florida

[Obesity Discussion]

Youth basketball league aims to prevent obesity


October 15, 2006

In an effort to help decrease child obesity, Who Got Game and Martin County Parks & Recreation has created the Who Got Game Developmental Basketball/Obesity Prevention Program League.
The league will provide youth and parents with information on the dangers of child obesity and provide an opportunity to learn how to play basketball. It will run from November until April 2007.


The league will be divided by age group and gender. The cost is $180 and can be made in monthly installments of $30. Registration is Nov. 1 from 6:30-7:30 p.m.at Hidden Oaks Middle School in Palm City. Information: Kraig McHardy at (772) 201-2238.

[Obesity Discussion]

Escambia ready for obesity fight



Angela Fail

Escambia County parents: Your child could be at risk.

The Escambia School District and the Escambia County Health Department teamed up today to combat childhood obesity.

Every student in pre-kindergarten, first-grade, third-grade, sixth-grade and ninth-grade will receive a letter home today about their Body Mass Index � whether they are under, at or above the healthy weight ranges for their age group.

The BMI program, now in its third year in Escambia, was designed in response to a growing obesity epidemic among children locally and nationally. This year in Escambia, an estimated 38 percent of students are overweight.


Childhood Obesity in Florida

[scubabear]

Hello: I am new to this forum, but I wanted to get some information out that can help people that need it most. I am affiliated with The Weight Loss Clinic, Inc. Please do not misunderstand, I am not advertising on this forum. This is a christian based business run on Godly principals. I say all that to say this... God has put it on our hearts to help those who need it most. Any patient that comes to us who weigh 400 pounds or more can recieve one year of full service weight loss at no charge. No strings attached. We have a physician supervised program, and a dietitian on staff.

We feel this intervention will be life changing for our patients. Some of our patients that utilize this program do so to get their weight to a safe point for surgery, others continue on the program so they will not have to have the surgery. The program is based on appetite suppressant medications, B6, B12 and lipotrophic injections, diet change and encouragment.

If you would like more information about this program you can call our office at (205)670-5355
Happy Weight Loss to you all

[SunShine]

Where is this clinic located?