A
DIRECTORY OF RESOURCES TO HELP ADDRESS OVERWEIGHT AND OBESITY IN
INTRODUCTION
We intended to start this
resource directory with a list of strategies, interventions, programs and
activities that would be useful in preventing and treating overweight and
obesity in kids. However, for childhood obesity, we were unable to create our
“laundry lists” for several reasons. First, obesity is not recognized as a
disease as is asthma or diabetes. Hence, it is not possible to isolate prevention
and treatment strategies as easily. Further, today in the
Obesity is, in fact, a
complex, multi-factoral chronic condition involving
environmental (social and cultural), genetic, physiologic, metabolic,
behavioral and psychological components.
(See the companion Metropolitan Kansas City Obesity Report for
more information about causes and consequences of overweight and obesity.)
Still, if we accept that
both too much “energy in” (calories) and too little “energy out” (as with
physical activity) have played a significant role in creating the
obesity problem we see today, a resource directory needs to identify
opportunities to learn more about these issues and to find support for
lifestyle changes that will balance the energy in/energy out equation.
The focus of this directory
is on children. Experts point to childhood as the critical period for the
development and prevention of obesity. For many adults, the roots of their
obesity can be traced back to childhood. Further, dietary and lifestyle
modification seem to be effective in the prevention and treatment of childhood,
but not always adult, obesity. In addition, success in addressing obesity
problems in children often “spills over” to improve the entire family’s health
and weight. Hence, despite the fact that there is no one or several “magic
bullets” that will help reverse our tendency toward overweight, there are
resources available to help individuals and families who decide to address the
problem. And it is accepted that kids will need support from, and the
involvement of, families and adults with whom they interact if they are be to successful in addressing their weight problems.
The sections of the
resource directory are:
1. Physician-Supervised Childhood
Obesity Treatment Programs in the
2. School Resources
3. Useful Websites
4. Clubs and Organizations in Greater KC that
Promote Healthy Lifestyles for Youth
5. Specialized Nutrition Programs for Youth
6. Health Department Contacts
7. Parks and Recreation Resources
8. State Resources
9.
10. Publications
11. Also of Interest
1. PHYSICIAN-SUPERVISED
CHILDHOOD OBESITY
TREATMENT PROGRAMS IN THE
The Body Shop
A weight
control program for kids ages 8 to 16 who may need extra help in learning about
weight management and healthy lifestyles. The program aims to create an atmosphere of energy, fun and
excitement, while stressing the importance of healthy habits for the whole
family. The program includes components taught by pediatric specialists from
Children’s
The Body Shop program is
offered three times a year at
Contact: Children’s
Mercy Hospital Nutrition Department
Phone: (816) 234-3468
www.childrens-mercy.org
(select “Nutrition”)
Fit Kids Weight
Management Program
A weight management program
for kids ages 3-17 with a focus on healthy habits and lifestyle changes for the
whole family. The program is medically supervised by a pediatrician. It
includes teaching the child and caregivers weight
management as a SKILL that can be mastered -- much like the skill of soccer or
learning to play the piano. The comprehensive 10-week program includes a
medical evaluation at the beginning and end of the program, as well as weekly
behavioral groups for parents and age-related groups for the child or
adolescent. Ongoing maintenance classes are offered to give support and
accountability after the initial weight loss phase has been completed. Children
and adults with higher risk due to type 1 and 2 diabetes, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, or sleep apnea are welcome, as are those who just want to
make healthy lifestyle changes. Call for cost information.
Contact: Monica Pierson, MD, FAAP
Medical Director
(located
next to
Phone: 913-441-9102
Fax: 913-327-9021
mpierson@WeightManagementCenter.com
KUMC’s Department of Pediatric Endocrinology has a
Metabolism Clinic on Wednesdays which evaluates children with type 2 diabetes
as well as weight problems. At the present time treatment is individualized. In
the future, camps and other treatment programs will be offered.
Contact: Department of Pediatric Endocrinology
Phone: 913-588-6326
KU has several weight
control research projects underway aimed at preventing and treating overweight
and obesity. Some of these target children. Current research sites include
Contact:
Energy Balance Lab, Room 24
Phone: 785-864-0782
Fax: 785-864-2009
Email: cglenn@ku.edu
website:
http://ebl.ku.edu
2. SCHOOL RESOURCES
Changing the Scene - Improving
the School Nutrition Environment
Changing the Scene offers a
tool kit at no charge, on request, that addresses the entire school nutrition
environment based on a commitment to nutrition and physical activity, focusing
on pleasant eating experiences, quality school meals, other healthy food
options, nutrition education and marketing the issue to the public. This kit
can help local people take action to improve their school’s nutrition
environment. The Food and Nutrition Service of the USDA developed the kit with
input from sixteen education, nutrition and health organizations including the
Contact: Call 703-305-1624 to request order form or
visit website at http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/changing.html
to download order form
or to email order.
Nutra-Net, Inc.
Nutra-Net, a local company, provides teacher training and
lesson plans to meet the special nutritional education needs of students of all
ages. “Storytime Cooks” is a curriculum for 3-7 year
olds. “Whiz, Zip and Zap It” is a curriculum for 7-14 year olds. A pictorial
cookbook for children is also available. Participants learn to make better use
of their food resources in order to conserve time and money and improve their
health.
Contact: Peggy Hausheer,
Director
Phone: (816) 836-2646
FAX: (816) 836-5846
email:
peghaus@nutra-net.org
website:
www.nutra-net.org
Healthy Kids Challenge
Consultants offer workshops
and individualized training for school leaders, parents, and kids to raise
awareness and encourage healthy changes in the eating and activity habits of
schoolchildren. Also, Healthy Kids Challenge has several products available for
purchase including a 400 page “how-to” manual and School Activity Kits. Healthy
Kids Challenge has worked with more than 700 schools nationwide including
several in the
Contact: Vickie L. James, RD, LD, Director
Phone toll-free: 1-888-259-6287
Email: vickie@st-tel.net
website:
http://www.healthykidschallenge.com
The School Health Index for
Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: a Self-Assessment and Planning Guide, CDC
This is a self-assessment
and planning guide for physical activity and nutrition programs. The goal of
this program is to help schools identify strengths and weaknesses of current
programs, develop an action plan for improvements, and involve teachers,
parents, students and the community in making these improvements.
Contact: www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dash/sh1/index.htm
Planet Health: An
Interdisciplinary Curriculum for
Planet Health includes 63
lessons and 30 micro units appropriate for middle school-age children. Through
lessons designed to be incorporated into math, science, social studies,
language arts, and physical education classes, the curriculum introduces and
reinforces four simple health messages/goals:
·
Be physically
active daily or nearly every day.
·
Limit your screen
time to no more than 2 hours each day.
·
Eat five or more
fruits and vegetables (combined) every day.
·
Choose a diet low
in saturated fat and trans fat and moderate in total
fat.
Contact: Human Kinetics. Call 1-800-747-4457 or visit
their website at www.HumanKinetics.com
yourSELF Middle School Nutrition Education Kit
An information effort from
the USDA on nutrition and physical activity “that speaks directly to
adolescents.” The Kit, which contains materials for health education, home
economics or family living classes, can help 7th and 8th grade students learn
to make smart choices about eating and physical activity. “The materials convey
respect for adolescents’ power of choice -- and their increasing control over
their own health.” Kit includes a magazine with write-ups such as “Are You
Normal?” and “Snack Attack”; a student workbook; teacher’s guide;
video; poser; and ideas for linking cafeteria and classroom. All materials can
be downloaded using Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Contact: www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Educators/yourself.html
P.E.4LIFE
PE4life is a national,
non-profit advocacy organization that promotes quality, daily physical
education programs for
For information about the
PE4life Academy, call Carrie Gibson at (816) 472-7345 or cgibson@pe4life.org
PE4life website: www.pe4life
Kim Cairns, Office Manager (816) 472-7345
See also under
Step Up and Step Out
3. USEFUL WEBSITES
kidnetic.com
For tweens 9 to 12 and their parents. Organizes information into four key
areas: food, fitness, feelings and fun. The site also encourages a
dialogue between kids and their parents about healthy lifestyles. Blends together science-based information on nutrition, physical
activity and behavior with interactive games and engaging activities. Webside
development based on two and a half years of research with tweens
and their parents. Kidnetic.com
developed through a partnership of six organizations working together to
help prevent childhood obesity, including American Academy of Family
Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine, American Dietetic Association,
International Food Information Council (IFIC) Foundation, International Life
Sciences Institute Center for Health Promotion and National Recreation and Park
Association.
www.bcm.tmc.edu/ (or
search for
This website has
easy-to-read handouts for parents on how to help their kids with weight
management IN ENGLISH AND SPANISH. Go to website and search for “Help Your
Child” and it will lead you to PDF file to download.
www.modental.org/Stop_Pop/Materials
There are various Stop the
Pop! educational materials available for downloading.
Materials were developed for use in dentists’ offices, but “the message was
created for all -- especially parents, caregivers, and educators of children
and young adults.” Has brochures, mail stuffers,
handouts, powerpoint presentation and links to other
websites.
www.kidfood.org
This site is sponsored by
the Connecticut Association for Human Services. Its features include a Kids Only club with nutrition games and activities, a
Teacher’s Corner with lesson plans and classroom activities, and a Parent’s
Corner offering activities for the home.
www.bam.gov/about/index.htm
BAM! (Body And Mind) was created by
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to answer kids’ questions on
health issues and recommend ways to make their bodies and minds healthier,
stronger, and safer. BAM! also serves as an aid
to teachers, providing them with interactive activities to support their health
and science curriculums that are educational and fun.
www.fns.usda.gov/FN./mascot/mascot.htm
Eat Smart, Play Hard is a
national nutrition education and promotion campaign sponsored by the USDA. The
campaign focuses on four basic themes including breakfast, snacks,balance, and physical activity. The website provides
links to brochures for parents and activity sheets for kids, in addition to
many other resources.
www.5aday.gov
Five a
Day for Better Health. The goal of
this program is to increase the average daily consumption of fruit and
vegetable servings to five a day. The program aims to increase public awareness
of the importance of 5 a day and to provide consumers specific information
regarding 5 a day and the health benefits this provides.
Also available through: Office of the Associate Director
Division
of Cancer Control and Population Sciences
National
Cancer Institute
Phone:
301-496-8520
Fax:
301-480-2087
www.cspinet.org/kids
The Center for Science in
the Public Interest has numerous health links both for children and adults. The
Center’s KIDS STUFF link includes lunchbox makeovers, 1% or less school kit,
Kitchen Fun for Kids, Top 10 Best and Worst Foods, Berry Good’s Eating Tips,
and Four Sure-Fire Dinners for Kids.
www.cspinet.org/nutrition/9weeks.htm
For adults there is a 9
step program to better eating.
www.nutritionandkids.net
Offers
for sale a CD-ROM game for elementary age children to provide them with
education on health and nutrition.
Can be sold by schools and organizations to raise
funds. Website contains a sample game.
www.brightfutures.org
Bright Futures provides
publications that can be ordered online or downloaded in PDF format. The site
includes family materials such as activity books and tip sheets. There are also
materials available in Spanish. This program is provided by the
keepkidshealthy.com
This website calls itself
“a pediatrician’s guide to your children’s health and safety.” [anybody know who sponsors this?] Aimed at parents,
has current articles on many health topics and offers free age-appropriate
newsletters for kids. Search for “obesity” turns up a number of entries
including a BMI calculator parents can use to determine if their child is
overweight or underweight.
www.actionforhealthykids.org
A website
where pediatricians can identify how to take part in creating a healthy school
environment at the local level.
www.niddk.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm
The Weight-control
Information Network (WIN) is a national service of the National Institute of
Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health
(NIDDK). Provides the general public, health professionals,
the media, and Congress with up-to-date, science-based health information on
weight control, obesity, physical activity, and related nutritional issues.
Among website materials are “Helping Your Overweight Child” and “Take Charge of
Your Health: A Teenager’s Guide to Better Health.”
www.healthykc.org
Developed by
www.webmd.com
Useful
for parents, teachers, healthcare providers. Has information on all kinds of medical conditions.
Click on “
www.nationaldairycouncil.org
See for free nutrition
education materials
providers or schools can use to help kids increase their calcium
intake and enhance their diets. Also, this website has a copy of the
proceedings from the Healthy Schools Summit: Taking Action for Better
Nutrition and Fitness, held Oct 7-8, 2002, in
www.mobeef.org
www.kansasbeef.org
www.wheatfoods.org
Other industry councils
that offer free nutrition education materials.
Other websites with
specific useful information:
q
Food guide
pyramids: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/Fpyr/pyramid.html
q
Food guide
pyramid for children: www.usda.gov/cnpp/KidsPyra/PyrBook.pdf
q
Food guide
pyramid printable images: FoodGuidePyramidDatabaseandImages.htm
q
Food guide
pyramid in Spanish: Spanish_food_pyramid.htm
q
Food guide
pyramid/interactive site for kids 7-10: PyramidTracker.htm
q
Nutritional
content of food: www.nal.usda.gov/fnic/foodcamp
q
Nutrition
education for new Americans: www.Spanish_kids.htm
q
Nutritional
analyses: http://spectre.ag.uiuc.edu/~food-lab/nat/nat.
q
BMI calculator
for adults: www.nlbisupport.com/bmi
q
BMI calculator
for youth 2-20: www.babysdoc.com/body_mass_index.htm
q
Growth charts:
www.cdc.gov/growthcharts
q
CDC VERB
Spanish info: http://verb.espanol.yahoo.com
q
Childhood
Obesity document from Northwest Obesity Prevention Project: Obesity
Prevention.htm
q
Obesity
Evaluation and Treatment: Expert Committee Recommendations:
http://www.pediatrics.org/cgi/content/full/102/3/e29
q
More, for
kids: Nutrition Explorations Kids.htm
Associations and federal
websites worth exploring:
q
North American
Association for the Study of Obesity: www.naaso.org
q
American
Obesity Association: www.obesity.org [advocacy organization to change public policy to
re-conceptualize obesity as a disease; has facts and figures on adult obesity]
q
American
Dietetic Association: www.eatright.org
q
American Heart
Association: www.americanheart.org [has
section on Children and Youth describing their Jump Rope For Heart, Hoops For
Heart, and HeartPower! programs]
q
American Diebetes Association: www.diabetes.org [not much on kids]
q
q
U.S. Surgeon
General: www.surgeongeneral.gov
q
q
q
4. CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
IN GREATER
2003 School’s Out Guide
Published by Heart of
America Family Services, this free Guide to summer programs for school-age
children in the
Boys & Girls Clubs
The Boys & Girls Clubs
of Greater Kansas City promote the development of self-esteem, values, and
skills for boys and girls, ages 5-18, with special emphasis on youth from
disadvantaged circumstances. Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater
Young Men’s Christian
Association of Greater Kansas City (YMCA)
The YMCA is a non-profit
membership organization offering a variety of health and wellness programs,
youth sports, swim lessons, mentoring, teen activities and the like. The YMCA
of Greater KC has eleven branches located throughout the KC area, on both sides
of the state line. Families can call 816-561-9622 to find the nearest location
and how to get involved.
Young Women’s Christian
Association of Greater Kansas City (YWCA)
Located at
Women’s Intersport Network for
WIN for KC is a non-profit
organization that advocates and promoted the lifetime value of sports and
fitness for girls and women and provides opportunities for participation in the
Call 816-474-4652, etc. 227
to learn more.
Other Programs
The Girl Scouts and the Boy
Scouts, along with Camp Fire Girls and a number of other organizations, promote
healthy lifestyles among as one component of their programs which are aimed at
fostering positive values among youth. Check them out!
5. SPECIALIZED NUTRITION
PROGRAMS FOR YOUTH
See entries under School
Resources above.
Harvesters
Harvesters
has nutrition education programs
for children, especially overweight children.
Contact Person: Valerie Watson, Director of Community
Services
P: 816-231-3173 ext.125
F: 816-231-7044
Kids in the Kitchen
Search on Internet for
“Kids in the Kitchen” and a number of recipes will be ready for you to check
out.
School Breakfast Program
Many schools offer free or
reduced cost breakfasts through a federal program. The
See also entries
under School Resources above.
6. HEALTH DEPARTMENT CONTACTS
Health Educators in your
local health department can be helpful in providing up-to-date information
about programs and activities aimed at promoting health and wellness. Some of
the programs have been developed by health departments themselves, and the
health educators will likely know of other programs available in the community.
They are also knowledgeable about educational and other materials that might be
useful if you are wanting to learn more or are
developing your own program.
Examples of some of the
programs sponsored by the Health Departments are noted in italics below.
Health Department of
Unified Government of KCK and
Biagio Pagano, Director of Health
Education & Chronic Disease Risk Reduction
Phone: 913-573-6708
Offers the American Heart
Association’s HeartPower! program
in three middle schools in
Johnson County Health
Department
Nicole Brown, Health Educator
Phone: 913-477-8331
Coordinates the
Community Health Intervention Project (CHIPr), a
partnership of schools, faith, governmental and community organizations
established to address and reduce the epidemic of obesity in
Clay County Health
Department
Armida Olsen, Health Educator
Phone: 816-781-1142
Jackson County Health
Department (eastern
Alisa Smith, Health Educator Phone: 816-404-6413
Patsey Dieleman, Health Educator Phone: 816-404-6442
Dr. Christine Trainor
Phone: 816-513-6270
Platte County Health
Department
Sherry Kisker,
Health Educator
Phone: 816-858-2412
Sponsors
the
7. PARKS AND RECREATION
RESOURCES
Parks and Recreation
Departments or Community Centers - Call for current listing of recreational
programs and special events. Also, call for park locations, information on
hiking trails, and facilities, such as swimming pools, available for community
use.
Phone:
816-228-0137
Website: www.bluespringsgov.com
Phone:
816-280-3319
Phone:
816-532-0803
Phone:
816-992-3524
Phone:
816-790-3484
Phone:
816-464-5010
Phone:
816-795-8200
Phone: 816-513-7516
Website: www.kcmo.org. Click on “Recreation” for
current listing
Lees
Phone:
816-969-7494
Phone:
816-792-6009 (
Phone:
816-513-7500
Phone: 816-741-7676
Phone: 816-858-5627
Phone: 816-858-2232
Phone:
816-358-4100
Phone:
816-741-3999
Phone:
816-532-8130 [note: do not offer programs themselves, but can
tell callers of others’
activities]
Phone:
816-858-5555
Phone:
816-640-2752
Phone:
913-685-6000
www.bluevalleyrec.org
Phone:
913-422-7010
Phone: 913-831-3355
Phone:
913-339-6700 ext. 154
Phone: 913-541-0209
Phone:
913-722-7750 (
Phone: 913-722-8200 (
Phone:
913-764-6163
Phone:
913-895-6390
Phone:
913-722-0039 (
Phone:
913-573-8304
8. STATE RESOURCES
The Kansas State Department of Education, under agreement with the U.S. Depa