Yearlong crusade against obesity in children to begin
By Heather Ann White Caller-Times January 28, 2007 If you go What: Nueces County Childhood Obesity Summit planning meeting
When: 7:30 a.m. Tuesday
Where: Driscoll Children’s Hospital
Information: 694-4864
The community is invited to an anti-obesity meeting at 7:30 a.m. Tuesday at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
The meeting will kick off a yearlong campaign against childhood obesity and diabetes that will involve local businesses, schools and community leaders, said Dr. Stephen Ponder, Texas A&M College of Medicine professor of pediatrics and director of the diabetes and endocrine center at Driscoll Children's Hospital.
Ponder, who works with about 600 pediatric patients, said half the children he treats are overweight or obese and could develop diabetes later in life.
He hopes the campaign will bring new ideas on how to combat the problem, which is a growing national health issue.
"We're not short on information. We just have to get it out there," he said. "We just need to all get in the same room and share our ideas. This is not meant for people to feel guilty - it's meant to educate people."
Mary Dale Peterson, Driscoll Children's Hospital Health Plan president and chief executive officer, said the community should be aware of the problems obesity and diabetes pose.
"It really bothers me when we have things we can prevent," she said. "It's really sad when a child gets cancer, but when you see a child suffer from something preventable - it's awful. We're losing a younger generation."
Peterson, who is a member of the obesity campaign's steering committee, said that during the year, groups or task forces will work on anti-obesity projects and everyone involved will compare notes at a summit in 2008.
Childhood Obesity in Texas
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