Health and Fitness

October 29, 2007

New Podcast Looks at The Amazing Food Detective, Childhood Obesity

Trina Histon, practice leader for weight management in Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute, shares her ideas about healthy eating, active living, and "The Incredible Adventures of the Amazing Food Detective" in this KP News Center podcast.

Histon notes that Kaiser Permanente was focused on childhood obesity for years prior to this summer's launch of "The Amazing Food Detective" video game. For example, Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute in 2002 took a broad-based look at weight management. CMI looked at how Kaiser Permanente could help facilitate healthy changes in members' workplaces, schools, and homes, rather than just talking about how members might make healthier food choices.

"The Amazing Food Detective" is the latest example of that vision. The online video game teaches children about eating right and getting enough exercise. While it might seem counterintuitive to some – the idea of using a video game to teach healthy eating and active living – but Histon points out that it's important to reach children where they're spending time. The game, she notes, also shuts off after 20 minutes, will not reactivate for one hour, and encourages players to get up and get some exercise.

For more, listen to the podcast.