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Childhood Obesity Initiative

The issues of childhood overweight and obesity are complex and require multiple approaches to help the large number of children affected by them. While there are numerous traditional weight loss and fitness programs, social, economic, cultural, and diversity complexities minimize the impact of these programs among low-income minority populations. In order to have any degree of success, programs must be developed that focus on the consumer mindset-that is, how children and their families view overweight and obesity and the lifestyle changes that are being promoted. The HSC Foundation has adopted an initiative that aims to analyze qualitative data and formulate recommendations that will inform government officials, funders, and other stakeholders on effective education and communications strategies; the major policy opportunities and the major obstacles; and the private sector's role in supporting education and policy change.

Preventing Childhood Obesity in Low-Income Minority Populations

The HSC Foundation, with support from The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, conducted a community-based participatory research initiative aimed at identifying ways to more effectively combat obesity in low-income minority (i.e., African American and Latino) children and their families and ultimately improve policy formulation to address this issue. The key questions the research was designed to answer were:

  1. Why does the target population often not practice healthy lifestyles (social and cultural barriers to behavior change)?
  2. What are the potential approaches to overcoming these barriers?

Based on the Foundation's research, an obesity awareness campaign was developed and launched in late September 2007. The campaign is targeted to parents in low-income communities to raise awareness around the threats and dangers of childhood obesity.

Click here for sample campaign messages:

Poster versions of the campaign messages (18" x 24") are available at no cost by using the order form (Microsoft Word or Adobe PDF file).

**NEW** The HSC Health Care System’s Healthy Living Center!

A new website has been created to provide resources as they are made available to support The HSC Foundation’s childhood obesity initiative and to promote healthy lifestyles.

Currently, we have a FREE resource directory and several awareness posters that are available for order or download. Click www.healthylivingcenter.info/ to go to the new website.

The Washington Metropolitan Area Healthy Lifestyles Resource Directory was prepared to help families find resources that can help them to adopt healthier lifestyles. It includes information on community-based programs and services in the Washington Metropolitan Area related to physical activity, nutrition education, weight management, and walking and biking trails. It also provides resources for free food and meals, shopping transportation, and food delivery. It also offers educational and entertaining websites for children and teens on healthy living topics.

Grantees

National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality
Support of the activities around the Childhood Obesity Action Network; sponsorship of the 6th Annual Forum for Improving Children’s Health Care.

Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc.
Expansion of The HSC Foundation’s Community Services Resource Directory to include obesity prevention related information and resources for consumers, families, and providers.