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For Policy-Makers and Administrators
A Tool To Help Fight Childhood Obesity
by Megan Crowley, Ken Embley, CPPA
Obesity is a key factor in developing diabetes,
hypertension, stroke, myocardial infarction (heart attack), metabolic syndrome,
asthma, and other health problems.
From 1994 to 2008, the percentage of Utah’s 3rd
grade students who were obese increased 46%, from 5.9% to 8.6%.[1]
“These trends are likely to create additional pressures on
our overburdened health care system. Studies estimate the obesity epidemic
costs the country more than $117 billion per year in direct medical costs and
indirect costs related to reduced productivity and absenteeism.” [2]
Here at the University of Utah’s Center for Public Policy
& Administration (CPPA), our Outreach department is working with the Utah
Department of Health Physical Activity, Nutrition & Obesity (PANO) Program
to support children, youth and adults in making healthier choices to improve
physical activity and eating patterns.
On May 14, the PANO Program held a forum at the Salt Lake
Community College Miller Campus. At
this forum, people representing three areas of influence (government, media, and family) and four intervention settings
(health care, school, worksite, and community) met to develop a collective
understanding of the healthy choice challenges all citizens confront each and
every day. The outcome of the forum is
a comprehensive effort to initiate work to develop, then implement, a ten-year
strategic effort to support children, youth and adults in making healthier
choices.
Utah policy-makers and administrators will play a key role
in implementing this state-wide strategy.
One useful tool in this endeavor is the Action Strategies Toolkit,
developed by the nonprofit organization, Leadership for Healthy Communities.
Leadership for Healthy Communities is a national
program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation designed to support local and
state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood
obesity through public policies that promote active living, healthy eating and
access to healthy foods. They developed
the toolkit in close collaboration with the following organizations:
- American Association of School Administrators;
- Council of State Governments;
- International City/County Management Association;
- Local Government Commission;
- National Association of Counties;
- National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed
Officials Educational Fund;
- National Association of State Boards of Education;
- National Conference of State Legislatures;
- National League of Cities Institute for Youth,
Education, & Families;
- National School Boards Association; and
- United States Conference of Mayors.
The strategies in this toolkit include budgets, laws,
regulations, and zoning, that policy-makers and administrators can use to help
develop healthier and more viable communities.
For example, government leaders can facilitate land-use
policies, such as mixed-use development, and support public parks and transit
options, including walking paths and bicycle lanes. They can create incentives
to attract supermarkets and farmers’ markets to underserved communities and
improve the nutritional quality of foods and beverages in schools.
The Action Strategies Toolkit can be found at:
www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/
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