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Families get help in obesity battle
By: Kelli Bamforth, Staff Writer
kellibamforth@sunpublications.com
The Parks and Recreation Department is partnering with several area organizations to start a pilot program to combat childhood obesity.
The Kansas City Physical Activity and Nutrition Program will provide six months of healthy foods coupons and fitness club memberships to 250 families with at least one at-risk child between the ages of 5 and 13. Five Safety Net Clinics around the metro area each will identify 50 families to participate.
Families will complete questionnaires to determine eating and activity patterns and will undergo a series of health assessments at the beginning and end of the program. The screenings include a health history, body weight and height, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sample. Families also will participate in a focus group to discuss their experiences with the study.
“One of our No. 1 priorities is children and youth,” Parks Commissioner Aggie Stackhaus said. “Health issues are a very important consideration for Parks and Recreation to take part in. We need to do something about childhood obesity.”
Other program sponsors include the University of Kansas, Price Chopper, YMCA of Greater Kansas City, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The parks department and YMCA will pay for fitness club memberships. All clinics will use guidelines provided by Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Rear Adm. John Babb with the U.S. department said the program will help identify reasons for childhood obesity.
“A study forecast of children born in the year 2000 reported that 33 percent of boys and 39 percent of girls would contract diabetes in their lifetime,” Babb said. “Unfortunately there are many facets to (being) overweight and obese. A lot of things will have to change in the lives of Kansas City families.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that from 1980 to 2004 the number of overweight and obese children age 2 to 5 years old increased from 5 percent to 13.9 percent; for children age 6 to 11 years old, 6.5 percent to 18.8 percent; and for children age 12 to 19 years old, 5 percent to 17.4 percent.
Fifth District Councilman Terry Riley said the program is needed in Kansas City.
“Type 2 diabetes among children age 9 to 11 is at an epidemic level in Kansas City and around the country,” Riley said. “Some people say you cannot eat healthy on a budget, but you can.”
Mary Virden from Safety Net Clinics said the program will allow the clinics an opportunity to better influence their patients’ health.
“One of the great challenges that face us is the limited time we have with patients and the limited education we can provide,” she said.
The program will measure changes in participants’ diets and physical activity as well as other health indicators. The program possibly could be extended at the end of the six-month pilot depending on results. Families will be selected on a rolling basis over the next several months.
To participate, visit a Safety Net Clinic: Westside Health Center, 2121 Summit St., Kansas City, Mo., 471-0900; Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, 6303 Evanston, Raytown, Mo., 356-4325; Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, 636 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 371-9966; Family Health Care, 340 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 722-3100; and Silver City Health Center, 3015 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 831-1111.
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The Kansas City Physical Activity and Nutrition Program will provide six months of healthy foods coupons and fitness club memberships to 250 families with at least one at-risk child between the ages of 5 and 13. Five Safety Net Clinics around the metro area each will identify 50 families to participate.
Families will complete questionnaires to determine eating and activity patterns and will undergo a series of health assessments at the beginning and end of the program. The screenings include a health history, body weight and height, waist circumference, blood pressure and blood sample. Families also will participate in a focus group to discuss their experiences with the study.
“One of our No. 1 priorities is children and youth,” Parks Commissioner Aggie Stackhaus said. “Health issues are a very important consideration for Parks and Recreation to take part in. We need to do something about childhood obesity.”
Other program sponsors include the University of Kansas, Price Chopper, YMCA of Greater Kansas City, and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
The parks department and YMCA will pay for fitness club memberships. All clinics will use guidelines provided by Children’s Mercy Hospital.
Rear Adm. John Babb with the U.S. department said the program will help identify reasons for childhood obesity.
“A study forecast of children born in the year 2000 reported that 33 percent of boys and 39 percent of girls would contract diabetes in their lifetime,” Babb said. “Unfortunately there are many facets to (being) overweight and obese. A lot of things will have to change in the lives of Kansas City families.”
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that from 1980 to 2004 the number of overweight and obese children age 2 to 5 years old increased from 5 percent to 13.9 percent; for children age 6 to 11 years old, 6.5 percent to 18.8 percent; and for children age 12 to 19 years old, 5 percent to 17.4 percent.
Fifth District Councilman Terry Riley said the program is needed in Kansas City.
“Type 2 diabetes among children age 9 to 11 is at an epidemic level in Kansas City and around the country,” Riley said. “Some people say you cannot eat healthy on a budget, but you can.”
Mary Virden from Safety Net Clinics said the program will allow the clinics an opportunity to better influence their patients’ health.
“One of the great challenges that face us is the limited time we have with patients and the limited education we can provide,” she said.
The program will measure changes in participants’ diets and physical activity as well as other health indicators. The program possibly could be extended at the end of the six-month pilot depending on results. Families will be selected on a rolling basis over the next several months.
To participate, visit a Safety Net Clinic: Westside Health Center, 2121 Summit St., Kansas City, Mo., 471-0900; Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, 6303 Evanston, Raytown, Mo., 356-4325; Mercy and Truth Medical Missions, 636 Minnesota Ave., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 371-9966; Family Health Care, 340 Southwest Blvd., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 722-3100; and Silver City Health Center, 3015 Strong Ave., Kansas City, Kan., (913) 831-1111.
Comments on "Families get help in obesity battle"
Comments are limited to 200 words or less.Joyce Townser, RN wrote on Feb 28, 2008 8:36 AM:
" The program will provide families the opportunity to understand how healthy eating and physical activity works as a team in promoting health and wellness. It will aslo increase their knowledge as it relates to nutrition, physical activity, and preventative care, as well as promote bonding for the entire family. It would be nice if other similar organizations could join forces to expand this opportunity to more families in the Greater Kansas City Metropolitan area. Kudos to all the collaborating partners for addressing this issue. "