In the Community

September 28, 2012

Kaiser Permanente and National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month

Earlier this month President Barack Obama proclaimed September 2012 as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, encouraging all Americans to learn about and engage in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our nation’s children.

The rise of obesity in children and adolescents has become one of the most significant public health issues of our time. Nearly a third of American children and adolescents are overweight or obese. Those youngsters are likely to become overweight or obese adults unless they change their eating habits and begin exercising.

With its focus on preventive medicine and total health, Kaiser Permanente has many initiatives that address childhood obesity. Several videos on the Kaiser Permanente Center for Total Health blog address the topic.

• Southern California Pediatrician Patricia Cantrell, MD, discusses how to get children to eat better and exercise more on Kaiser Permanente’s Healthy Chats, a monthly dialogue with physicians, members and the media intended to foster dialogue about critical health topics. As a pediatrician, Dr. Cantrell sees a lot of her young patients who are struggling with their weight.
       Dr. Cantrell’s easy-to-remember tips on getting healthy »
  
  

Find out what Nicole, Barbara and Karen have to say »

• Nicole Taylor, president and CEO of the East Bay Community Foundation, explains the challenges her community faces in addressing this important issue and how communities like hers around the nation can participate in The Weight of the Nation — a national public health campaign targeting obesity — by leading collaborative efforts in fighting obesity.
       Kaiser Permanente’s work with the East Bay Community Foundation »
  
  
• Barbara Berv, vice president of philanthropic services at The Denver Foundation, speaks about their partnership with Kaiser Permanente and Hunger Free Colorado and the goal of eliminating hunger in Colorado. Hunger and the lack of nutritional foods, she explains, is a contributor to obesity.
       Kaiser Permanente’s work with The Denver Foundation »
  
  
• Also, the city of New Orleans has been taking bold steps to address obesity and fitness on a local level — most especially for the city’s children. In this interview, Dr. Karen DeSalvo, city of New Orleans health commissioner, discusses the Fit NOLA Partnership, which aims to improve fitness levels and combat childhood obesity in New Orleans. DeSalvo’s vision is that through Fit Nola, New Orleans will become one of the top 10 fittest cities in the United States by 2018.
       Kaiser Permanente’s work in the Gulf Coast »

Kaiser Permanente has had a visible presence in New Orleans for the last decade, fulfilling Kaiser Permanente’s commitment to help rebuild the Gulf Coast by participating in a number of community-based recovery efforts. Earlier this year, Kaiser Permanente Gulf Coast volunteers met with Dr. DeSalvo at special event in New Orleans where volunteers built and delivered bicycles for local children.