Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

The Epidemic
61% of Iowa adults are overweight or obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
23% of non-Hispanic white adults, 25% of non-Hispanic black adults, and 25% of Hispanic adults in Iowa are obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
The obesity rate among Iowa adults increased by 79% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)
30% of low-income children aged 2–5 years in Iowa are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC PedNSS, 2002)

Program Priorities
In 1999, as it became apparent that obesity was becoming a major health concern, the Iowa Department of Public Health established a Health Promotion Team to align the activities of various bureaus and divisions in the department that address nutrition, physical activity, weight reduction, and disease promotion. With funding from CDC, the Iowa Physical Lifestyle and Nutrition Initiative will be established through the Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention and the Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion. Additional private partners will be identified and recruited to ensure diversity.

A number of existing programs and interventions of the Department of Public Health address issues related to obesity prevention:

Mini-grants have been made to seven Iowa communities to develop, implement, evaluate, and institutionalize intervention strategies.
A 5 + 5 Manual was developed that provides guidance for community efforts to encourage individuals to eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day and to engage in physical activity at least five times a week.
Lighten Up Iowa is a 5-month statewide competition initiated in 2003 in which more than 1,300 10-person teams of adults compete to lose weight through healthy eating and physical activity.
A report was completed on The Prevention of Child and Adolescent Obesity in Iowa.
Pick a better snackTM is a social marketing campaign using mass media and classroom materials to increase children’s fruit and vegetable consumption.
A Health Promotion Team Summit focused on overweight/obesity and physical inactivity was held.
A program to distribute free fruits and vegetables to schools is being pilot tested in 25 schools.

Partners
AARP

American Cancer Society

American Heart Association

Area Agencies on Aging

Des Moines Child and Adolescence Guidance Center

Five A Day Coalition of Iowa, Inc.

Healthy Child Care

Iowa Academy of Family Practice Physicians

Iowa Association of Physical Health Activity, Recreation and Dance

Iowa Dental Association

Iowa Dental Hygienists Association

Iowa Department of Education (CACFP, Health Education, Team Nutrition, YRBSS)

Iowa Department of Elder Affairs

Iowa Department of Health Programs (cardiovascular health, diabetes, maternal/child health, minority health WIC, WISEWOMAN, Women’s health)

Iowa Department of Natural Resources

Iowa Department of Transportation

Iowa Dietetic Association

Iowa Fit Kids Coalition

Iowa Food Policy Council

Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association

Iowa Games

Iowa Health Systems

Iowa High School Athletic Association

Iowa Lactation Task Force

Iowa Medical Society

Iowa Nutrition Network

Iowa Partners for Healthy Kids

Iowa State University (Extension Service, Cooper Institute, Department of Health and Human Performance)

Iowa Wellness Council

La Clinica

Mercy Children’s Center

Midwest Dairy Council

University of Iowa (Center for Development and Disabilities, Center for Weight Management, Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health,)

University of Northern Iowa (Global Health Institute, Youth Fitness and Obesity Institute)

Wellmark Blue Cross, Blue Shield

Upcoming Events and Products
A kickoff summit will be held to energize partner subgroups and charge subgroups with developing a vision for promoting nutrition and physical activity in Iowa.
The comprehensive state plan for nutrition, physical activity, and obesity prevention will be developed.
Community forums will be convened to get public input.
The Iowa Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System survey instrument (PedNSS) will be distributed to Iowa child health specialty clinics and school systems
Project Period: 2004–2008
Year First Funded: 2004
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Judith Solberg, MPH, RD
Chief, Bureau of Nutrition and Health Promotion
Iowa Department of Public Health
Telephone: 515-281-3713
Fax: 515-281-4913
E-mail: jsolberg@idph.state.ia.us


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

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obes...grams/iowa.htm

[Obesity Discussion]

Davis County schools battling obesity



(BLOOMFIELD, Iowa) "What the committee did and it's purpose took on a lot more meaning when we realized our numbers were pretty bad," said Anne Morgan the Davis County Superintendent of Schools.

The numbers Morgan is referring to aren't test scores.

After conducting a body mass indicator test on students at Davis County Schools, it was determined that 30% of them were overweight.

That's one of the reasons they now have a Wellness Committee.

The committee was formed to promote healthy living among students.

Two years ago, federal legislation was passed to require all school systems to have such organizations.

"Healthier changes for children and family healthier eating styles increased amount of physical activity for kids - everybody just becoming more aware of what we can do on an individual basis to improve the health of children and families," said Davis County school nurse, Lesle Kouba.

A proposed plan to eliminate all pop machines in the schools was popular, but Morgan says, "We would prefer to have more choices instead of no choices."

So the Davis County Wellness Committee built its plan around choice.

The group decided to give students healthy alternatives in the cafeteria and teach them about healthy living in the classroom.

And the lesson doesn't stop there.

"Our emphasis is going to be with parents - getting more information out to them about healthier choices, better lifestyles and exercise," added Morgan.

Davis County will present its Wellness Policy to the school board next Tuesday.

Law states that all schools must have a policy in place by the time school starts this fall.

Morgan hopes this will bring those numbers down.

"During the school session if there are always healthier choices then that's half the battle," said Morgan.


--Anthony Miller , Reporting

[Obesity Discussion]

Ottumwa schools act to stop childhood obesity



(OTTUMWA) Childhood obesity has become an alarming issue recently. According to the American Obesity Association, the percentage of children and adolescents who are overweight and obese is higher now than ever before.

In fact, school officials have conducted studies about obesity in Ottumwa Community Schools. Results show that 25 to 30 percent of the children are overweight or obese. School officials say that's higher than the national average.

We wanted to know what Ottumwa Community Schools are doing to keep kids away from this unhealthy trend.

Lunch time is often a child's favorite time of the school day, but a glance at the menu with meals such as nachos and cheese can have parents wondering how healthy the lunch program really is.

The Ottumwa district follows federal and state guidelines to produce its lunch program.

Each day the schools have to serve two ounces of meat or meat alternatives, two servings of bread and 3/4ths of a cup of fruits or vegetables. Milk also has to be provided.

The school system has taken big steps the past couple of years to kick unhealthy habits in kids.

"We have been making changes to our school lunch program menus for the last couple of years. If you look at the menu we have now, compared to what we were serving a couple years ago, you're going to see a lot more fresh fruit on our menu, which is a change. You're going to see a lot fewer desserts," Program Director with Ottumwa Schools, Kim Hellige, said.

The school only offers dessert a few times a month now, and what about that nachos and cheese meal?

"Even if a daily menu might look like it's a little heavy, if it's balanced out over the course of the week, we do meet the federal guidelines," Hellige said.

After all of this talk of nutrition, we visited Horace Mann Elementary because we wanted to know what was on the menu.

"These are pizza dippers, and we have lettuce salad, peaches and pudding," Student, Kate McGinity, said.

The Latham girls, however, decided to bring their own cold lunch.

"I just decided not to have hot lunch because I looked at it, and it had a lot of grease," Student, Daylin Latham, said.

The girls get their healthy habits at home where their parents feed them a lot of organic foods. We were interested to see if their mom thought the school lunch program was a healthy one.

"Yea, I think it's better than in has been in the past. Of course I'd like to see more fresh fruits and vegetables, but they do offer fruits and vegetables," Mother, Stacie Latham, said.

Parents are big role models for growing children.

"Your kids usually pick up, I think on what you model, and so if your household is modeling good behavior, it only makes sense that your children are going to follow suit," Hellige said.

--Jill Kasparie, Reporting.

Childhood Obesity Fight

[Obesity Discussion]

Trim Tots Aims At Preventing Obesity
Program Teaches Good Eating Habits

POSTED: 2:47 pm CST October 31, 2006
UPDATED: 3:01 pm CST October 31, 2006

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DES MOINES, Iowa -- Des Moines schools are fighting childhood obesity in a new way.

The Trim Tots program will begin at McKinley Elementary School. It's a collaborative effort involving the school district, Mercy Medical Center and the YMCA.

The program will work with 3- to 5-year-old children and their parents. They will learn the importance of good food choices, the right portion sizes and exercise.


Parent Amanda Gonzalez said her child is not overweight now, but she's at risk of becoming overweight. Gonzalez said she is working on it with her child.

"We're excited about working with families and changing things and making a difference in children's lives," said Head Start nurse Donna Dickerson.

In a recent study, Des Moines Public Schools found that more than one-third of children in preschool programs are already overweight.

Childhood Obesity in Iowa