Childhood obesity in America has reached epidemic proportions, with the number of overweight children doubling over the past two decades. The Defense Commissary Agency (DeCA) is championing the fight against childhood obesity with supporting the “Let’s Move!” campaign through promoting physical activity for children and healthy food choices.  We have taken the quest to market and educate DeCA’s military audience to commissaries, publications and even to social networking sites, holding healthy food and physical activity demonstrations, writing about the positive effects making healthy choices can bring, and “tweeting” with commissary patrons about how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Two of DeCA’s most recent health and wellness events took place at military installations in Virginia. 5-year-olds from the installation child development center learned how to make fresh fruit shish kabobs and vegetable cornucopias using whole-grain tortillas, while commissary employees teamed up with the Morale, Welfare and Recreation Center to treat the children to a morning of fun-filled exercises. These events encourage children at an early age so they know how to make healthy choices throughout their lives. By working with the children, the community and the families to learn to make healthy choices, they’re more likely to continue these good habits as they get older. Eating healthy and exercising are both important aspects in winning the battle against childhood obesity and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

The fight against childhood obesity involves the community supporting the families and providing educations as well as interventions that help support the things they do at home. At the same time, we are able to teach adults to be healthier through these interactive events.

What are some things you are doing to help encourage children to be active in your community?

Dear Physical Activity Colleagues,

For thirty years, the Healthy People initiative has put forth a comprehensive set of health promotion and disease prevention objectives to track, monitor, and motivate action to improve the health of all people in the United States.  As we prepare for the next decade, the Healthy People 2020 initiative aims to unify the national dialogue about health, motivate actions, and encourage new directions in health promotion, providing a public health roadmap and compass for the country.  More than ever, the Healthy People vision of a society in which all people live long, healthy lives speaks to the challenges and opportunities we face each day, calling on us to improve population health by developing collaborative solutions that reach beyond health care.

It is with great excitement that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services invites you to be a part of the launch of Healthy People 2020.  The event will take place on December 2, 2010, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM EST at the Jack Morton Auditorium of The George Washington University, 805 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052.

This event will mark the beginning of Healthy People 2020 and the official release of the next decade’s national health promotion and disease prevention objectives.  The program will include remarks from the HHS Assistant Secretary for Health Dr. Howard K. Koh and members of the Secretary’s Advisory Committee on National Health Promotion and Disease Prevention Objectives for 2020.  There will be an introduction and orientation to the Healthy People 2020 Web site and objectives, followed by a panel discussion about the uses of Healthy People 2020.  You can ask live questions via Webcast and Twitter. 

You have played an important role in developing Healthy People 2020.  Now the real work begins!   Similar to the past two decades, Healthy People 2020 will include Physical Activity as a topic area. As a key stakeholder, your work to implement Healthy People 2020 Physical Activity objectives throughout the decade will be critical to improving the health of the nation.   Please consider following Healthy People on Twitter at: www.twitter.com/gohealthypeople.  Registration for the event is strongly encouraged.  Live Web streaming will also be available.  Any questions regarding the event can be sent to healthypeople2020@air.org.  To attend the launch or participate via Web streaming, register by visiting www.healthypeople.gov/2020_reg/register.aspx

Please join us and be part of making Healthy People come alive for all Americans.

Sincerely,

RADM Penelope Slade-Sawyer, P.T., M.S.W.

Deputy Assistant Secretary for Health

(Disease Prevention and Health Promotion)

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

This week we would like to spotlight the Fit for the Masters Use module of ProjectPower and how it was implemented by a Houston-based program.

Program Basics

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) has created a year-round diabetes awareness program called ProjectPower, which is specifically designed for implementation in African American churches.  In this program, the church can promote awareness messages and healthy family living by participating in one of the modules called Fit for the Masters Use (Physical Activity).   In this module, participants learn the definitions of diabetes and pre-diabetes.  This module increases awareness of why physical activity is important, introduces different forms of exercise, provides suggestions for getting started, discusses the recommended amounts of exercise for adults, and increases awareness of the healthcare provider’s role. According to Sherry Grover, her program tailored the module by offering some give-a-ways such as the ProjectPower pedometer and using line dancing, which has become increasingly popular in the African American community, as exercise.

Measuring Success

Grover says that they measure program success through knowledge and program assessments. Knowledge is measured in the form of pre/post quantitative test. The questions are focused on information presented in the Fit for the Master’s Use module.  Participants are asked to not include a name on questionnaires and consent for participation is constituted by completing the forms which are optional.

The program’s success is measured by the qualitative and quantitative measures. Qualitative measures are obtained by the Ambassador Evaluation.  Ambassadors are church representative trained by the ADA to conduct the year-round modules.  Questions measured address the presentation of the workshop and the materials used in the program.

Challenges

Challenges faced in implementation include recruitment and funding.  The pastors of the churches are asked to recommend ambassadors’ or representatives from the church that can recruit church member participation.  Past participation has been low.  Some of the reasons given include: time constraints and not wanting to know about a potential illness.  “In addition,” Grover states, “funding for giveaways, materials and snacks is often a problem.”

Implementing a Similar Program in Your Community

Those interested in implementing similar programs can contact the ADA for market area, ambassador training and program materials.  The ambassador training is normally conducted at the ADA offices but can be conducted at individual churches.  After participants complete training, they are given ambassador materials for the program.  They are also given timelines.  The ADA will conduct follow-up on each participant’s progress.

How could you use this program in your community?