         |
 |
We Can! focuses
on treatment of
childhood obesity
(May
2008 Issue)
By Elinor Nelson
"There is no mission of greater importance," said Acting Surgeon
General Steven K. Galson, M.D., MPH, in a speech last November at
Boston Children's Museum, speaking of a national effort to combat
childhood obesity. "Obesity has become an epidemic," he said. "Right
now we've got it backwards. We live in a treatment-oriented society.
We need to change it to a prevention-oriented society."
Galson was in Boston to commemorate "We Can!," short for Ways to
Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition, a national program promoted
by the National Institutes of Health. It assists communities and
parents in helping kids to keep healthy weights and focuses on improving
food choices, increasing physical activity and reducing screen time.
We Can! has more than 25 national and 15 corporate partners. Locally,
it is run by the Boston Public Health Commission which has worked
with YMCA of Greater Boston and community health centers to reach
out to parents in the neighborhoods of Dorchester, Roxbury, Hyde
Park, Jamaica Plain, South End, South Boston, Mattapan and Chinatown.
This 25-square mile area contains 58% of Boston's total population,
70% of its under-18 residents and the highest incidence of obesity,
diabetes and asthma.
"It's one piece of the puzzle," comments Anne McHugh, M.S., local
director of the program. McHugh also runs Boston Steps, a Centers
for Disease Control-funded effort to address obesity, diabetes,
and asthma in the targeted neighborhoods; We Can! complements Boston
Steps by recruiting the parent community.
"Parents want and need instruction," says McHugh, "but kids also
need it at school and after school, [and they need] safe neighborhoods
and access to healthy foods parents can afford."
We Can!'s parent workshops offer tips on healthy foods and cooking
techniques, healthy choices for eating in restaurants, appropriate
portion sizes, ways to encourage family exercise and budget shopping
ideas. The Boston Health Commission has been running We Can! for
about two years and while it is not one of their bigger programs
- so far it has reached hundreds, not thousands, of residents -
it has served a critical niche. The funding runs through September,
but they're hopeful it will be renewed.
|
 |
