Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/promot.htm

The Epidemic
64% of West Virginia adults are obese or overweight. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
28% of non-Hispanic white adults and 37% of non-Hispanic black adults in West Virginia are obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
29% of West Virginia high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC YRBSS, 2003)
26% of low-income children between two and five years of age in West Virginia are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC PedNSS, 2002)
The obesity rate among West Virginia adults increased by 83% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)

Program Priorities
The West Virginia Physical Activity/ Nutrition/ Tobacco Steering Committee is working to develop a comprehensive plan for obesity prevention. The Steering Committee has refocused the plan development process to include the strategy of working through the Regional Health Promotion Specialist Network to obtain local- and state-level input. On the basis of information that has been collected on existing obesity prevention efforts, the Steering Committee has determined that, while the plan will address the West Virginia population as a whole, for maximum impact it should focus on the state’s youth population through the Action for Healthy Kids Team.

The majority of existing statewide physical activity and nutrition efforts focus on change at the personal level. Therefore, the physical activity and nutrition plan will have a strong focus on policy and environmental change to support these existing individual behavior change programs.


Partners
Cabin Creek Health Center
Ebenezer Medical Outreach
National Governors' Association
Partners in Corporate Health
Partnership of African American Churches
Vision Shared
West Virginia Action for Healthy Kids Team
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health, Chronic Disease Programs
West Virginia CARDIAC Project
West Virginia Coalition for Physical Activity
West Virginia Department of Education, Office of Healthy Schools
West Virginia Healthy Communities Center
West Virginia Hospitality and Travel Association
West Virginia Medical Association
West Virginia Nutrition and Chronic Disease Coalition
West Virginia Office of Tourism
West Virginia Office of Child Nutrition
West Virginia on the Move
West Virginia Parent Teachers Association
West Virginia Public Employees Insurance Agency
West Virginia Trails Coalition
West Virginia University Prevention Research Center
West Virginia University School of Medicine
West Virginia University Extension Services
West Virginia WIC Program
WISEWOMAN
Wood County Schools

Recent Accomplishments and Products
Established the West Virginia Physical Activity/ Nutrition/ Tobacco Steering Committee.
Formed the West Virginia Nutrition Network to address the gaps in statewide nutrition and physical activity efforts.
Developed an inventory tool to assess existing obesity prevention efforts and identify gaps.
Held a Trails to Wellness Conference that laid the groundwork for collaborative "walkable community" efforts.
Awarded three mini-grants and one subcontract for activities related to physical activity and nutrition, including West Virginia on the Move and Walkable Communities.

Upcoming Events and Products
Development of a comprehensive state plan.
Establishment of community/regional collaboratives to assist in the writing of the state plan as well as to build community support for sustainable physical activity and nutrition efforts.
Creation of a Regional Health Promotion Specialist Network to coordinate and provide training and technical assistance for the efforts of the community/regional collaboratives.
Development of a "Physicians on the Move" kit and pilot program.
Development of a "Schools on the Move" tool kit and pilot program.
Expansion (with additional funding) of the number of local “Walkable Community� efforts.
Project Period: 2003–2008
Year First Funded: 2003
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Keri Kennedy-Shamblin, MPH
Program Manager
West Virginia Physical Activity and Nutrition Program
West Virginia Bureau for Public Health
350 Capitol Street, Room 319
Charleston, WV 25301-3715
Phone: (304) 558-0644
Fax: (304) 558-1553
E-mail: kerikennedy@wvdhhr.org
Web site: http://www.wvdhhr.org/bph/promot.htm*


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...t_virginia.htm

[Obesity Discussion]

Community Taking a Stand Against Childhood Obesity
Posted Sunday, December 3, 2006 ; 05:15 PM

New sports center will focus on helping kids get in shape.
Story by Nicky Walters Email | Bio

St. ALBANS -- West Virginia is one of the leading states in the country when it comes to childhood obesity, but a new sports complex is hoping to change the trend.

The Ayash Sports Complex hosted its grand opening Sunday.

The facility will offer everything from basketball to boxing.

While the building is open to people of all ages, the main target is kids.

"Back several years ago kids would go ride bikes, climb trees, run and play," said Jeff Null, the complex's director. "These days that doesn't happen as frequently. Just providing a place where kids can burn calories and move their bodies should contribute to that issue."

The Ayash Sports Complex is located at 2400 Kanawha Terrace.


Chilldhood Obesity in West Virginia

[Obesity Discussion]

Innovative Collaboration to Help Curb West Virginia Obesity
Saturday January 27, 1:00 pm ET UniCare's focus on improving health offers members new resource aimed at achieving weight management goals

CHARLESTON, W.Va., Jan. 27 /PRNewswire/ --

UniCare Health Plan of West Virginia, Inc. announced today a groundbreaking collaboration with Weight Watchers of West Virginia, Inc. to curb the obesity problem in West Virginia. The program is aimed at UniCare's more than 75,000 Medicaid beneficiaries in state.

The collaboration is the first of its kind in West Virginia and will allow UniCare's members - with a physician's approval - the opportunity to participate in a 16-week Weight Watchers course free of charge.
"UniCare offers our members access to a unique personalized health benefits model aimed at improving the health of West Virginians," said John Monahan, vice president and executive director of UniCare West Virginia. "We recognize that maintaining a healthy weight is important to an individual's overall well-being, and we are pleased to make this program available to our members in West Virginia to assist them in achieving their weight management goals."
"Our collaboration with Weight Watchers of West Virginia is based on the mutual goal to help individuals achieve their ideal weight in order to lead a healthier more active lifestyle," said Monahan.
The program is not only available to qualified adults, but also to children and adolescents from 10 to 17 years of age. Criteria for qualifying patients include:
* Obtaining a physician referral * For children ages 10 to 17, having a Body Mass Index (BMI) score in the 85th percentile or above * For adults, having a BMI score of 25 or greater

"The major benefit for our company is the fact that we get the opportunity to help people who normally would not be served by Weight Watchers," said Millie Snyder, CEO of Weight Watchers of West Virginia.
Recent health trends in the state show a need for programs such as UniCare's:
* 64% of West Virginia adults are obese or overweight. (CDC BRFSS, 2002) * 29% of West Virginia high school students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC YRBSS, 2003) * Obesity is also spreading among West Virginia children. Nearly 43% of 5,887 children screened in a coronary artery risk project from 1999- 2002 were considered overweight, and more than 25% were considered obese. (www.wvdhhr.org) * The Medicaid Estimated Medical and Pharmacy Costs related to Obesity- Related Diseases in WV from July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2001 totaled $135,385,774.22. (www.wvdhhr.org) * The obesity rate among West Virginia adults increased by 83% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)

After learning of the program, the Governor and First Lady offered their support as well.
"The Governor and I are pleased that UniCare, through this collaboration, is seeking out innovative ways to curb West Virginia's obesity problem," said First Lady Manchin. "We hope that this effort will spur on similar collaborations in our state."
WellPoint, Inc., the parent company of UniCare, serves more than two million Medicaid managed care members in 14 states and Puerto Rico. Members have access to a wide network of health care professionals as well as health management programs that are accredited and nationally recognized in several states.
Physicians and UniCare members can receive more information on the program by calling 1-866-513-8352.
UniCare serves 1.6 million medical members and is an operating subsidiary of WellPoint, Inc., the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including open access PPO, POS and hybrid products, HMO and specialty products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, long term care insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration, and Medicare supplements. UniCare can be found on the web at www.unicare.com.
Obesity in West Virginia

[Made the goal]

This needs to be updated. The 2005 Risk Factor Survey results have been published.

HOW do I personalize my profile?

[Obesity Discussion]

Originally Posted by Made the goal

This needs to be updated. The 2005 Risk Factor Survey results have been published.

HOW do I personalize my profile?

Go into your "User CP" on the top toolbar and from there you can change your profile.

[docaudio32]

Maybe if the DHHR would control how people spend their food stamps (everyone knows most of wv receive food stamps) and wouldnt let the parents load their shopping carts down with soda pop, cookies, ice cream , etc. then obeisty would more then likely drop. Dhhr controls what you receive from wic so how hard would it be to control the spendings of food stamps? Just a suggestion but everyone knows weight control starts at the grocery store. Unless you have a medical condition. Excercise is second.