Community Members Set Priorities for Tackling Childhood Obesity at 

A Summit for the Health of Our Children
 
Over 100 members of our community from families, healthcare, education, child care, and wellness came out to the J. E. Broyhill Civic Center on Saturday, October 18 to take part in A Summit for the Health of Our Children.  Organized by Caldwell Memorial Hospital and its community partners, the event kicked off a five-year campaign to lower Caldwell County's childhood overweight and obesity rate almost 5 percentage points by 2013.  Doing so would reduce Caldwell County's average to the current North Carolina average (which is still worse than all but 4 other states) and that is a huge step in the right direction. Failure to act will leave Caldwell County kids at higher risk for diseases and disorders including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. 

 

Before they anonymously vote to establish community priorities, Summit attendees were treated to high-energy, educational presentations by experts in the field of child health and wellness. Paula Collins, MHDL, R.H.Ed, enior policy advisor for Healthy Responsible Students with the NC State Board of Education, presented “On Track to a Healthier Community”. 

Sarah Armstrong, MD, FAAP, director of the Healthy Lifestyles Program at Duke University Medical Center, presented “The Childhood Obesity Epidemic:  How We Got Here, What It Means for Your Child’s Health, and How Your Family Can Stop It”.   Susan Tumbleston, RN, BSN, MBA and program manager of BEACTIVE North Carolina Appalachian Partnership, presented “The Importance of Being Active”, and Christopher Lineberry, MSA, principal of Jack Harmon Elementary School in Queen Creek, Arizona, presented “Best Practices for a Healthier School”.   After the presentations, audience members used the Turning Point Audience Response System to electronically vote on each of the following questions.  Their answers are in parentheses after each of the questions.

  1. What do you believe to be the top priority for FAMILIES to do to prevent or reverse the trend for overweight and obesity in children?
    1. Prepare and serve balanced meals at home (44 %)
    2. Eliminate sugared drinks (9%)
    3. Schedule family opportunities for exercise (33%)
    4. Reduce dependence on fast foods (14%)
    What do you believe to be the top priority for SCHOOLS to do to prevent or reverse the trend for overweight and obesity in children?
    1. Increase the amount of time for physical activities during the school day (40 %)
    2. Offer only healthy food dishes and snacks in the school cafeterias (16%)
    3. Elimiate sugar and soda drinks in vending machines on campus (12%)
    4. Integrate wellness into the curriculum across all disciplines (32%)
    What do you believe to be the top priority for HEALTHCARE to do to prevent or reverse the trend for overweight and obesity in children?
    1. Provide truthful intervention when appropriate with patients and families (8%)
    2. Develop a "prescription" for successful eating and activity standards (27%)
    3. Integrate healthy lifestyles education into physician office visits (24%)
    4. Provide educational tools and guidelines to help families succeed (41%)
    What do you believe to be the top priority for STUDENTS to do to prevent or reverse the trend for overweight and obesity in children?
    1. Increase physical activity to appropriate levels (18%)
    2. Eat healthy snacks, fruits and vegetables (4%)
    3. Learn about and make healthy choices (45%)
    4. Take ownership for your personal health (34%)
  2. What do you believe to be the top priority for LOCAL GOVERNMENT to do to prevent or reverse the trend for overweight and obesity in children?
    1. Establish a policy of funding preventive health versus illness treatment (26%)
    2. Create access to exercise facilities and programming in all communities (37%)
    3. Fund recreation and wellness facilities (24%)
    4. Provide policy leadership for wellness (13%)
Audience members were encouraged to leave suggestions box and to provide honest feedback anonymously on evaluation forms at the close of the event.  A number of participants volunteered to be part of the five-year campaign to reduce Caldwell County's rate of overweight and obesity in children.  And from their evaluations of the programming at A Summit for the Health of Our Children, attendees wrote:
  • Summit was well worth my time.  I only wish more people would show interest for the health of our children.
  • Summit was really great.  Every teacher and every parent in our county should have been here.
  • Superb!  On par with national prsentations I have seen. I'm so glad this is being recorded.  Please promote when it wil be aired on TV. {Note:  A Summit for the Health of Our Children was videotaped by Charley Little of County Television and will begin airing soon on Caldwell County Today - Charter Cable Channel 10.  Please click here to check for scheduled dates and times.}
  • Fun Day!

Caldwell Memorial Hospital is pleased to be a partner in A Summit for the Health of Our Children because we care about the health of Caldwell County kids!