Weitzman Symposium 2010

1. Childhood Obesity: A
Reversible Epidemic
Wietzman Symposium
June 10, 2010
Jessica Collins
Director, Special Initiatives

2. Why are you here today?
One third of our nation’s children have threatened
healthy futures due to obesity.
The rates of childhood obesity have tripled since 1980.
We spend $150 billion every year to treat obesity-
related conditions, and that number is growing.
This is the first generation of American children whose
life expectancy may be shorter than their parents.
Text adapted from Let’s Move!

3. Support the movement to
transform two systems.
Systems that will enhance the lives of
future generations!

4. Production Processing Packaging
Distribution Retailing
The Food System: Farm to Table
The potato story
Marketing
FARM
TABLE

5. The Built Environment -Transportation
System
 What activity happens
where
 How we move
 Access to opportunities
and choices (activity, food,
and healthcare)
 Community character

6. There is NO Magic Pill
•Each community has different strengths and
resources
•Social change is slow and very dependent on
health/strength of relationships
•Focus on interventions that have:
–Designated leadership
–Build on existing platforms
–Flexibility and Strategic Alignment
–Sustainability potential

7. Two Communities Respond

8. We Changed the Environments
We Enhanced the Systems
We Nurtured Local Leadership
We decreased BMI-z score in high risk,
vulnerable children ages 6-9 years old in
nine months.

9. Somerville, MA
• ~ 78,000 pop
• 4.1 square miles
• 3% open space
• 83% traffic cut- thru
• Heart disease / lung cancer
leading cause of death
Social Fabric
•Gentrification & increasing
immigrant population
•Community coalition rich
• Few $ resources
•65% of students eligible for
free/reduced meals
•50+ reported languages
spoken at home

10. WHAT: An environmental intervention to prevent childhood obesity
WHO: 1st – 3rd grade children in Somerville, MA and two controls
WHERE: Homes, before, during, and after school programs, and the
community
GOALS:
1) Create opportunities for children to expend an additional 125 kcal/day
over baseline to achieve energy balance
2) Create sustainable infrastructure that encourages physical activity and
healthy eating

11. Early Morning
Environment
During School
Environment
Afternoon
Environment
At Home
Safe Routes to School Maps
↑ Walking to School (-30 kcals)
Healthier Home Breakfast
↑ Fiber, ↓ Sugar, ↓ Fat
Appropriate Portion Sizes
Before School Program
Healthier School Breakfast
↑ Fiber, ↓ Sugar, ↓ Fat
Appropriate Portion Sizes
Increased Fresh Fruits
Breakfast Coordinator
Reinforcing
Environments
Home Environment (~15 kcal)
Parent Newsletter w/ coupons
Growth Reports
↓ Screen Time
Promotional Gifts
Community Environment
Community “Champions”
Restaurant Participation
Pediatrician Training & Support
Community TV Appearances
Ethnic Group Outreach
Community PA Resource Guide
Community Events
At home
Safe Routes to School Maps
↑ Walking Home (-30 kcals)
Healthy Home Snack
↑ Fiber, ↓ Sugar, ↓ Fat
After School Program
Curriculum:
Cooking Lessons
Physical Activity (-30 kcals)
Nutrition Education
Professional Development
Classroom Micro Units
Physical Activity (- 25 kcals) 5 days/wk (10 min)
Nutrition & Physical Activity Education 1 day/wk
(30 min)
Healthier Fundraising Alternatives
Professional Development
Teachers
Administrators
Food Service Staff
PE Teachers
Physical Activity Equipment for Recess
Physical Activity (- 25 kcals)
Healthier School Lunch
Fiber, Sugar, Fat
Increased Fresh Fruits & Vegetables
Appropriate Portion Sizes
Improved Presentation and Atmosphere
Social Marketing in Cafeteria
Alternative “Healthier” A La Carte Items
New Food Service Equipment

12. Food Service
- Menu and a la carte changes
- Professional skills development
- Taste tests
- Social Marketing

13. HEAT Club: In School Curriculum
-All 90 1-3rd
grade teachers were trained
-Created opportuniteis for physical activity
-Changed PreK-12 Curricula Standards for the District

14. HEAT Club: After School Curriculum
- Piloted with 6 programs; 14 after school programs by the end
- Professional Development
- School Gardens
- Cooking and Nutrition Education
- Physical Activity for life

15. Wellness Policy: a team effort
 Parental acceptance/understanding
 Economic health of school
 Leadership of principals

16. Built Environment

17. Family Outreach
 Child’s Health Report Card sent home (4 languages)
 Newsletters every other month (basic reading)
 TV Turnoff Week (sensitivity to working parents)
 School Events (making everyone feel welcome)

18. Community Leaders are key!
2004 - 2010
Partner with targeted
CBOs
Ethnic Celebrations
FBOs
Tailor around their issues

19. Restaurant Campaign
•F/Vs as side
dish
•Signage
•Smaller
portion size
options
•Low-fat dairy

20. Family Responses to SUS –
Spring ‘04
• “I really appreciate the emphasis on nutrition
and healthy lifestyles it brings to my, kids, the
schools, and the city. It makes it easier as a
parent when these values are shared and made
public.”
• “I’ve stopped watching TV and limited my home
computer use and ate better foods to set a
good example. I took my kids walking more
and walked with them to school everyday.”

21. Community Results
 Engaged 90 teachers in 100% of 1-3 grade classrooms (N=81)
 Participated/conducted 100 community events
 Held 4 parent forums for non-English speakers
 Trained 50 medical professionals
 Increased walking to school by 5%
 Recruited 21 restaurants
 Reached 811 families through 9 parent newsletters,
 Reached 353 partners through 6 community newsletters
 Reached over 20,000 through a monthly media piece (11 mos)
 Recruited all 14 after-school programs
 Developed community-wide policies to promote and sustain change
(Wellness Policy, Pedestrian Safety)
 Helped bring in an additional $1.5 million

22. Efforts live on through
SHAPE UP SOMERVILLE TASKFORCE

23. Vision: A comprehensive, collaborative,
functioning coalition . . . to create a
healthy sustainable Springfield with regard
to physical activity and healthy eating.
•Transform the local food system
•Prioritize Bike and Pedestrian access
•Champion Health Equity Policies

24. Live Well Springfield Eat Smart. Stay Fit.
Stakeholders:
TFB; The Food Bank of Western MA
CCMS: Concerned Citizens of Mason Square
DTA: Department of Transitional Assistance
PHC: Partners for a Healthier Community
City: Parks and Recreation; Planning
CoC: Chamber of Commerce
LB: Local Businesses
NC: Neighborhood Councils
MLKJr.: Martin Luther King Community Center
EEC: Early Education and Care Orgs
YMCA
NNCC: New North Citizen’s Council
HS: Head Start
SQ: Square One
ECC: Early Childhood Center
SECEP: Springfield Early Childhood
Education Partnership
DEEC: MA Dept of Early Education and Care
SPCA: Springfield Partners for Community
Action
GG: Giggle Gardens
NOFA: North East Organic Farm Association
MHC: Mount Holyoke College
NCCJ: National Council Community & Justice
UROC: Undoing Racism Organizing Committ
MSHTF: Mason Square Health Taskforce
NECC: North End Campus Committee
NEON: North End Outreach Network
MIT: MA Institute of Technology
FB: Faith Based Institutes
BHS: Baystate Health Systems
DHHS: Dpt of Health and Human Services
R2TC: Rails to Trails Conservancy
PVPC: Pioneer Valley Planning Commission
CM: Community Member
CC: Catholic Charities
Target: Hunger initiative in
Mason Square – food
stamps; farmers market;
intergenerational meals;
advocacy
TFB; CCMS; DTA; PHC;
City; LB; CoC; NC; MLKCC
Farm to Preschool and
Families: cooperative
buying local produce
TFB; YMCA, NNCC; HS;
ECC; SO; SECEP; DEEC;
PHC;
Springfield Food Access
initiative providing mini-
grant funding and “learning
circle” for community based
work to enhance food
access at neighborhood
level
TFB; # of mini-grantees
Gardening the
Community youth based
initiative cultivating
community gardens
NOFA; MHC; GTC
SNAP initiative increasing
access to food stamp
program
TFB; DTA; PHC; City; CC
Mason Square Food
Justice Project building
capacity at neighborhood
level to “undoing racism”
with specific focus on
access to food
TFB; SPCA; UROC;
PHC; MSHTF; Dunbar;
NCCJ; NC; MLKCC;
Holy Trinity Church
North End Food Access:
Mapping identifying food
sources and gaps;
community garden
NNCC; MIT; NECC; NEON
LWS is the convening umbrella for all community initiatives specifically working on access to healthy eating and/or
physical activity through community based, cross sector collaborations, convened by PHC.
Grow Fit/LAUNCH
preschool initiative
training in classroom
curriculum; food
service; physical
activity
SO; SPCA; GG; ECC
FIT+ neighborhood
level diabetes
prevention project in
North End, South End,
Mason Square for
communities of color
PHC; BHS; NC; FB;
Faith Based Health
Alliance project organizing
congregation based health
education programs through
training lay health educators
SPCA; AHA; FB; PHC
River Walk Way
grassroots body
advocating for
upgrades and
maintenance on the 3
mile riverfront
walk/bike trail
CM; City; BHF; PVPC;
McKnight
Neighborhood Trail
Neighborhood council
doing feasibility study
of potential ½ mile trail
through McKnight
neighborhood
NC; City (PD)
Complete Streets
planning group for
citywide zoning policy
to promote mixed
transit
CM: City (PD; P&R);
R2TC; PHC; PVPC
South End
Revitalization
Project
infrastructure
upgrades and
economic
development
City; NC; CM; LB
Springfield Food
Policy Council –
special body at
the Mayoral level
guiding decisions
on food policy for
the city
Access to food
Access to p.a.
Both
MA in Motion:
Wellness
Leadership Council
assessment of City
leadership/environm
ent/policy in healthy
eating/physical
activity/tobacco/chr
onic disease
ACHIEVE
YMCA

25. Farm To Preschool & Families
 Existing network of early
education and care
organizations
 Policy umbrella of MA DEEC
 Network of providers already
convened
 Leadership of Food Service
Directors
 Catalyst for other institutions to
support the system
Farm of the Pioneer Valley, Chester, MA

26. Pilot Results
•$12,000 generated for farmer
•32% cost savings for produce for EEOCs
•Increased student nutrient consumption (fiber and vitamin A)
•Number of EEOCs involved doubled -10
•Over 80 EEOC staff trained in 3 professional development
trainings

27. Just like they do for seatbelts, smoking
and recycling… This Next Generation
Will Ask….
 Which farmer provided the fresh fruits and vegetables
offered to me at preschool or school?
 Why was this street built with out a sidewalk?
 Why can’t I have gym everyday at school it helps me
learn?
 Why isn’t there a bike rack at my school?

28. Join the Movement!