Press Releases: Georgia
February 24, 2003
Operation Zero (O.Z.) helps overweight children
ATLANTA, Ga.
| Who/What: | Kaiser Permanente of Georgia pediatrician Luke Beno, MD, has launched the Operation Zero (O.Z.) Project, a program targeting overweight 8- to 17-year-olds. The program is available at three Kaiser Permanente medical centers—Southwood in Jonesboro, Cumberland in Atlanta and TownPark in Kennesaw. |
| Why: | 40 percent of Georgia's children are overweight or at risk of being overweight. Statistics indicate that more than 20 percent of overweight children will be overweight adults. Carrying the extra pounds increases the risk for conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, orthopedic disorders and respiratory disease. |
| How: |
The O.Z. Project helps kids lose weight by developing healthy eating and exercise habits. A primary goal is to help patients reduce body fat percentages over one year from baseline to less than 30 percent of their total weight. Since the program started, participants have lost up to an average of 25 pounds. The O.Z. clinical team consists of a pediatrician, registered dietitian and professional chef. Sessions focus on physiological, psychological and emotional issues contributing to a child's eating habits. Some sessions cover low fat cooking, reading food labels, healthy snacks, exercise, and making better food choices when eating out. Pedometers are provided to encourage increased physical activity. |
| Contact: | Reporters interested in talking to pediatrician Dr. Luke Beno about the O.Z. Project, may contact Earnestine Perry at (404) 364-4754. |
Kaiser Permanente is the state of Georgia's largest nonprofit health plan, serving the health care needs of Atlanta metro area residents for 22 years. Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Georgia, Inc. currently provides comprehensive health care services to approximately 275,000 members through 15 medical facilities in a 28-county service, and a network of affiliated hospitals and physicians. The Health Plan provided more than $5 million in community benefit programs and services.
