CDC launches new project to address childhood obesity

The CDC recently launched a new effort through private and public health providers to combat childhood obesity, according to a press release.

Through funding from the Affordable Care Act, the 4-year Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project will build on existing community efforts and work to identify effective health care and community strategies to support children's healthy eating and active living and help combat childhood obesity.

"Over the last 3 decades, obesity rates among children and adolescents have nearly tripled," said CDC Director Thomas R. Frieden, MD, MPH. "Obese children are more likely to have asthma, depression, diabetes, and other serious and costly health problems. This project will help figure out ways our children can grow up to lead long, healthy and productive lives."

Project leaders said children aged 2 to 12 years will be targeted for this project and will be covered by the Children's Health Insurance Program. Innovative approaches are planned to reach low-income and minority families to tackle childhood obesity and prevent the onset of diseases associated with childhood obesity, including asthma, type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Actions that are planned include combining changes in preventive care at doctor visits with supportive changes in schools, childcare centers and community venues such as retail food stores and parks. Community health workers have been upon called to provide a bridge between families and resources in their communities to inform and educate hard-to-reach, limited English proficiency and minority communities about disease prevention, health insurance enrollment opportunities and disease management.

According to the CDC, the grantees' work will focus on strategies that improve children's health behaviors by involving the children themselves, their parents and other family members and the communities in which they live.

Research facilities included in this project include: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston; San Diego State University; and Massachusetts State Department of Public Health. The University of Houston will serve as the evaluation center.

For more information about the Childhood Obesity Demonstration Project, visit www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/researchproject.html.

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