Changing Health Care Obesity Changing Health Care Obesity Prevention Messages and Prevention Messages and

Environments: Environments: Lessons from HEACLessons from HEAC

NICHQ National Childhood Obesity CongressNICHQ National Childhood Obesity CongressMiami, FLMiami, FL

March 19, 2008March 19, 2008

2008 National Recognition Award for Health Care Programs Addressing Childhood obesity

2

.

6 community demonstration sites

CBO, PH Dept & school partners

Logic model base

Policy and systems change goals

Targets in 5 sectors: schools, after school, neighborhood, healthcare, marketing / media

Comprehensive technical support

Shared messages / communications

Supporting research

Statewide policy advocacy

Rigorous participatory evaluation

South Shasta

Oakland

South Los Angeles

Baldwin Park

Santa Ana

Chula Vista

$26 M

4 Yrs

Reduce Disparities in Obesity Reduce Disparities in Obesity by Improving Food and by Improving Food and Physical Activity Environments Physical Activity Environments for School-age Childrenfor School-age Children

3 April 21, 2023

Healthy nutrition options in and around schools

No marketing of unhealthy products to kids

Menu labels, no trans fat, tasty healthy options

Access to affordable fresh produce

Recreation centers, parks & bikeways

Safe streets, rapid transit

Smart growth, clean air

Health impacts considered

What Does Success Look What Does Success Look Like?Like?

Obesity Prevention During Pediatric VisitsObesity Prevention During Pediatric Visits

65%

65%

57%

49%

65%

42%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Discuss the importance of breastfeedingwhen age appropriate

Discuss eliminating or reducing sodaconsumption

Discuss need for child to eat at least 5servings of fruit or vegetables per day

Discuss reducing TV/ screen timeand/ or keeping the TV out of child's

bedroom

Discuss the importance of daily physicalactivity

Take BMI measurements and trackBMI

Provider Policy Advocacy ActivitiesProvider Policy Advocacy Activities

43%

24%

20%

17%

15%

8%

4%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50%

Advocating for healthier eating andphysical activity environs in my work

Working with communityneighborhoods for policy change

Working with prof practice group forpolicy change

Writing letters in support of policy orlegislation

Advocating for insurance coverage forobesity prevention

Testifying at local school board meeting

Testifying at local city council meetings

Barriers to Policy Advocacy Work for Barriers to Policy Advocacy Work for ProvidersProviders

61%

48%

46%

44%

42%

41%

21%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

Too little time

Unfamiliar with local policy makers

Unfamilar with local orgs engaged inpolicy and advocacy work

Unfamiliar with local policy issues

Lack of training in policy advocacy

Little financial compensation for policyadvocacy

Insufficient data to support particularpolicy and advocacy work

LessonsLessons Health care providers understand the Health care providers understand the

importance of obesity prevention; about importance of obesity prevention; about half do clinical prevention, but few are half do clinical prevention, but few are involved in policy advocacyinvolved in policy advocacy

Strategies:Strategies: Involve in local issuesInvolve in local issues Academic detailingAcademic detailing Training and toolsTraining and tools Personal stakePersonal stake Advocate for reimbursementAdvocate for reimbursement

Physician Champions: Working Physician Champions: Working Smarter Through Community Smarter Through Community

PartnershipsPartnerships

Chris Searles, M.D.Chris Searles, M.D.H.S. Assistant Clinical H.S. Assistant Clinical

ProfessorProfessorUniversity of California, San University of California, San

DiegoDiegoDepartment of Family & Department of Family &

Preventive MedicinePreventive Medicine

www.RecreationRx.org

http://http://www.healthyeatingactivecommunities.orgwww.healthyeatingactivecommunities.org

http://http://www.calendow.orgwww.calendow.org

http://kphealtheducation.org/index.htmlhttp://kphealtheducation.org/index.html

http://www.calmedfoundation.org/projects/http://www.calmedfoundation.org/projects/obesityProject.aspxobesityProject.aspx