History

Community Health Initiative: Childhood Obesity

The PROBLEM is obvious.
Obesity has risen dramatically in the United States population. Today 65 percent of all people age 20 and older are overweight or obese. Since 1991, the prevalence of obesity among adults has increased by more than 75 percent.
Source: American Heart Association

Over the past three decades, the childhood obesity rate has more than doubled for preschool children aged two to five years and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years, and it has more than tripled for children ages six to 11 years. Nationally the number of children considered overweight and/or obese is sited as anywhere from 16 percent to 25 percent.
Source: Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the balance, 2005 Institute of Medicine

In 2002 the SPAN (School Physical Activity and Nutrition project) was conducted in the State of Texas and included Abilene, Texas. The goal of SPAN is to monitor the prevalence of overweight and obesity in school aged children in Texas. Researchers at the University of Texas School of Public Health in Houston Texas conducted the SPAN project.

• In Abilene the participating schools were:
  Bowie, Dyess, Reagan, Thomas and Ward Elementary Schools; Clack, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln and Mann Middle Schools; Abilene and Cooper High Schools
• BMI (Body Mass Index) was reported by age and gender:
  • Boys 4th grade 39% classified as overweight and/ or obese
    
  • Girls 4th grade 30% classified as overweight and /or obese
    
  • Boys 8th grade 43% classified as overweight and or obese
    
  • Girls 8th grade 44% classified as overweight and or obese
    
  • Boys 11th grade 34% classified as overweight and /or obese
    
  • Girls 11th grade 26% classified as overweight and / or obese

Concerned Citizens and Partners are identified and ready.
The Childhood Obesity Task Force met in the spring of 2005 to hear a presentation from Dr. Rob Wiley about the local childhood obesity epidemic and to begin to formulate solutions for this community.

• Sixty-four local interested “partners” were invited and 58 attended. Those attending represented healthcare professionals, public schools, universities, local foundations, city leaders, community volunteers and those in the childcare field.
• All agree this issue must be addressed and should be a community effort.