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As the public health threat of childhood obesity has become clear,
the issue has become the focus of local, state, and national
initiatives. Many of these efforts are centered on the community
environment in recognition of the role of environmental factors in
individual behaviors related to food and physical activity. In many
communities, for example, fresh produce is not available or
affordable, streets and parks are not amenable to exercise, and
policies and economic choices make fast food cheaper and more
convenient than healthier alternatives. Community efforts to combat
obesity vary in scope and scale; overall, however, they remain
fragmented, and little is known about their effectiveness. At the
local level, communities are struggling to determine which obesity
prevention programs to initiate and how to evaluate their impact.
In this context, the Institute of Medicine held two workshops to
inform current work on obesity prevention in children through input
from individuals who are actively engaged in community- and
policy-based obesity prevention programs. Community perspectives
were elicited on the challenges involved in undertaking policy and
programmatic interventions aimed at preventing childhood obesity,
and on approaches to program implementation and evaluation that
have shown promise. Highlights of the workshop presentations and
discussions are presented in this volume. Table of Contents Front
Matter SUMMARY OF WORKSHOP--June 2008 1 Introduction 2 Perspectives
of Evaluators 3 Perspectives of Site Leaders References SUMMARY OF
WORKSHOP 2--May 2009 Summary 4 Introduction 5 Community-Based
Programs: How Does Information Help Them Achieve Their Goals? 6
Research and Advocacy Groups: How Does Evidence Inform Policy? 7
Decision Makers: How Do Community Perspectives Influence Policy? 8
Closing Remarks References Appendix A: Workshop Agendas Appendix B:
Biographical Sketches Appendix C: Workshop Attendees
Childhood Obesity Prevention in Texas summarizes the information
gathered at a workshop held February 5-6, 2009, in Austin, Texas.
At this workshop, committee members met with Texas lawmakers,
public officials, and community leaders to exchange ideas and to
view first-hand strategies that are being implemented effectively
at the state and local levels to prevent and reverse childhood
obesity. Texas leaders at the workshop expressed the strong belief
that the state's economic vitality and security depend on the
health of its population. Accordingly, the state is no longer
simply describing the personal, community, and financial costs of
its obesity crisis; it is taking proactive steps to address the
problem through strategic initiatives. An overarching strategy is
to address obesity by targeting the state's youth, in whom it may
be possible to instill healthy behaviors and lifestyles to last a
lifetime. A guiding principle of these efforts is that they should
be evidence based, community specific, sustainable, cost-effective,
and supported by effective partnerships. Moreover, the goal is for
the responsibility to be broadly shared by individuals, families,
communities, and the public and private sectors. Table of Contents
Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Opening Session 3 Childhood
Obesity in Texas: An Overview 4 Texas State Government: Successes
to Date 5 Texas State Government: What the Future Holds 6 A Look at
the Texas Landscape 7 A Look at the Austin Landscape 8 Live Smart
Texas Panel Presentation 9 Major Themes Appendix A: Workshop Agenda
Appendix B: Biographical Sketches Appendix C: Workshop Participants
Both the United Kingdom and the United States are grappling with
nationwide epidemics of obesity. Obesity contributes to diabetes,
cardiovascular disease, and some cancers, among other diseases.
Although many people are aware of obesity's causes and
consequences, few see it as a problem for their own
families-despite clinical evidence to the contrary. Given this
disconnect between perception and reality, policy makers in both
countries struggle to find a way to reach people to encourage
change. The IOM brought together policy makers from the U.K. and
U.S. for a workshop on October 22, 2009, to discuss the challenges
of and promising approaches to the struggle against obesity.
Presenters spoke about current policies, programs, and partnerships
that are addressing the obesity epidemic and evidence for effective
strategies to change perception and behaviors. The workshop,
summarized in this document, provided an opportunity for both
countries to learn from each other's efforts and to consider how to
apply new strategies at home. Table of Contents Front Matter
Summary 1 Introduction 2 Scope of the Problem 3 Government
Structures to Address Obesity 4 School Meal Policies 5 Physical
Activity and the Built Environment 6 National Policies and Programs
7 Local Policies and Programs 8 Concluding Remarks References
Appendix A: Workshop Agenda Appendix B: List of Participants
Appendix C: Planning Committee Biosketches Appendix D: Speaker
Biosketches
Childhood obesity is a serious health problem that has adverse and
long-lasting consequences for individuals, families, and
communities. The magnitude of the problem has increased
dramatically during the last three decades and, despite some
indications of a plateau in this growth, the numbers remain
stubbornly high. Efforts to prevent childhood obesity to date have
focused largely on school-aged children, with relatively little
attention to children under age 5. However, there is a growing
awareness that efforts to prevent childhood obesity must begin
before children ever enter the school system.
Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies reviews factors related
to overweight and obese children from birth to age 5, with a focus
on nutrition, physical activity, and sedentary behavior, and
recommends policies that can alter children's environments to
promote the maintenance of healthy weight. Because the first years
of life are important to health and well-being throughout the life
span, preventing obesity in infants and young children can
contribute to reversing the epidemic of obesity in children and
adults. The book recommends that health care providers make parents
aware of their child's excess weight early. It also suggests that
parents and child care providers keep children active throughout
the day, provide them with healthy diets, limit screen time, and
ensure children get adequate sleep.
In addition to providing comprehensive solutions to tackle the
problem of obesity in infants and young children, Early Childhood
Obesity Prevention Policies identifies potential actions that could
be taken to implement those recommendations. The recommendations
can inform the decisions of state and local child care regulators,
child care providers, health care providers, directors of federal
and local child care and nutrition programs, and government
officials at all levels.
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