Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

The Epidemic
61% of South Dakota adults are overweight or obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
20% of non-Hispanic white adults and 36% of American Indian adults in South Dakota are obese. (CDC BRFSS, SD BRFSS, 2002).
The obesity rate for South Dakota adults rose by 98% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
23% of South Dakota high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC YRBSS, 2003)
29% of low-income children aged 2–5 years in South Dakota are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC PedNSS, 2002)

Program Priorities
Preventing obesity is a high priority for the South Dakota Department of Health. In 1997, an interagency Child Obesity Workgroup was formed to coordinate activities regarding the prevention of eating disorders and the collection of height and weight data for school students. The department publishes an annual School Height and Weight Report that includes guidance for parents, children, teachers, coaches and school food service staff on how they can help prevent obesity. An Assessment of Activities Currently Conducted to Address Childhood/Adolescent Obesity in South Dakota was conducted in 2002, with funding from the federal Health Resources and Services Administration. The South Dakota Health Care Commission’s Subcommittee on Disease Management and Promotion of Healthy Behaviors works at the local level to encourage healthy behaviors through environmental and policy changes. In 2003, a team of public and private partners participated in the National Governor’s Association Policy Academy on Chronic Disease Prevention and Management. This team has continued to meet with the goal of improving the health of South Dakotans by increasing physical activity and improving nutrition to decrease the incidence of chronic disease.

With CDC funding, a State Nutrition/Physical Activity Planning Group will be convened to develop of a comprehensive state plan. The planning group will draw on the experience of existing obesity prevention activities while working to expand and diversify the obesity prevention partnership.


Partners
American Cancer Society

American Diabetes Association

American Heart Association

Indian Health Service

South Dakota Action for Healthy Kids

South Dakota and Indian Tribal Organization WIC Programs

South Dakota Association for Health, Physical Education, and Dance

South Dakota Breastfeeding Coalition

South Dakota Coordinated School Health Program

South Dakota Department of Education—Head Start

South Dakota Department of Game, Fish and Parks

South Dakota Department of Social Services—Office of Adult Services and Aging, Office of Child Care, Medical Services, and Out-of-School Time Program

South Dakota Diabetes Advisory Council

South Dakota Diabetes Education Program

South Dakota Park and Recreation Association

South Dakota 5 A Day Program

South Dakota Healthcare Commission

South Dakota Interagency Food and Nutrition Coordinating Committee

South Dakota Maternal Child Health Program

South Dakota National Governor’s Association Chronic Disease Workgroup

South Dakota State University

South Dakota State University Cooperative Extension Service

University of South Dakota School of Medicine

WISEWOMAN/AWC! Chronic Disease Screening Program
Upcoming Events and Products
Efforts will be undertaken to expand the number and diversity of non-state-government partners who will participate in developing the state plan.
Community forums will be held to gather input from the public and partners to help shape the state plan.
A system for evaluating the impact of the state plan will be developed.
A creative multi-dimensional Web site will also serve as a central focus for a Healthy South Dakota’ Initiative. The Web site will provide information and resources to a variety of audiences and will be the beginning of an overall image of physical activity and nutrition promotion.
Project Period: 2004–2008
Year First Funded: 2004
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Colleen Winter, RN, BSN
Project Administrator
South Dakota Department of Health
Telephone: 605-773-3737
E-mail: colleen.winter@state.sd.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
SD BRFSS — Questions added to the named survey by the individual state

http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obes...uth_dakota.htm

[Obesity Discussion]

S.D. Gives Its Schools Measuring Equipment To Track Child Obesity


PIERRE (AP) -- Measuring boards and scales have been awarded to schools across the state as a way to help track child obesity, the South Dakota Department of Health said in a release.
This year, the department is giving 31 measuring boards and 30 scales to 33 schools, bringing to 532 the total of scales or measuring boards awarded to keep track of students' height and weight -- and take part in a state survey.

"Weve made a concerted effort these past few years to get schools the equipment they need to monitor student height and weight," said Kristin Biskeborn, state nutritionist for the department. "The data can help schools improve physical activity and healthy eating by their students and it also gives us a more complete picture of child obesity in South Dakota."



Schools have been turning in student height and weight for the annual survey since 1999. The release says 229 schools, with an enrollment of almost 27 percent of students in the state, submitted data for the 2004-2005 report.

That report says 33 percent of South Dakota students were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

In exchange for the equipment, schools are asked to submit student height and weight data for three years, the Department of Health said.

On the Net:

http://www.state.sd.us/doh/SchoolWeight/

Childhood Obesity in South Dakota

[Obesity Discussion]

S.D. receives $100K to fight obesity in kids
By Jon Walker
Argus Leader
Published: August 3, 2007
South Dakota's Health Department will receive $100,000 from the National Governors Association to support programs to keep children from becoming obese.

One program is what officials call Fit from the Start, a campaign to help parents and care-givers teach 2- to 5-year-olds about the importance of healthy exercise and eating habits. Another is the state's first Great Day of Play on Aug. 15 to urge residents of all ages to be physically active outdoors.

South Dakota was one of 10 states chosen for the grant. During the past four decades, obesity rates quadrupled among children ages 6 to 11. A state survey showed one-third of students ages 5 to 19 are overweight or are at risk of becoming overweight.


South Dakota Obesity