News-Press, May 8, 2012
Written by Lindsay Downey
Special to news-press.com
From
First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to workouts that play
out on prime time TV — with shows such as NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” —
health advocates are waging war, one against Americans’ ever-expanding
waistlines.
Now, Lee County wants to help design the attack.
The
county is one of 50 in the nation — and one of only two in Florida —
searching for ways to combat obesity through Collaborate for Healthy
Weight, an initiative to improve obesity prevention and treatment. The
National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality and the Health
Resources and Services Administration are leading the project.
The
Lee County Health Department applied for a yearlong second phase of the
initiative, which began in March. Over the next year, leaders will
build on lessons learned during the first phase of the project and test
new interventions, using input from national experts through
consultations and webinars.
“The
Health Weight Collaborative may become a model for the nation,” health
department spokeswoman Diane Holm said, “and we wanted to help write the
model to ensure it was a good fit for our community.”
Sarasota
County served as one of 10 teams nationwide that participated in the
first phase of the program, which continues through July. In 2010, prior
to the project, Sarasota schools ignited a firestorm after they sent
letters to parents informing them that their children were overweight.
As
part of the collaborative, the county tried a new approach, one that
has been better received among parents. It began sending Healthy Goal
Worksheets home with elementary students to assess family health and
lifestyles. School nurses will follow up with families regarding their
goals.
Groups such
as BikeWalkLee, Child Care of Southwest Florida, the Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida, Family Health Centers of Southwest
Florida and the Lee Memorial Health System Parish Nurse Program will
lend ideas for initiatives to be tried in Lee.
“Everybody
who has something to gain or lose by this happening or not happening
(is involved),” said Dan Moser, of BikeWalkLee. “The hospitals have to
keep people out of the emergency rooms and out of their care. For the
health department, chronic disease is a major deal.”
Special to news-press.com
From First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move campaign to workouts that play out on prime time TV — with shows such as NBC’s “The Biggest Loser” — health advocates are waging war, one against Americans’ ever-expanding waistlines.
Now, Lee County wants to help design the attack.
The
county is one of 50 in the nation — and one of only two in Florida —
searching for ways to combat obesity through Collaborate for Healthy
Weight, an initiative to improve obesity prevention and treatment. The
National Initiative for Children’s Healthcare Quality and the Health
Resources and Services Administration are leading the project.
The
Lee County Health Department applied for a yearlong second phase of the
initiative, which began in March. Over the next year, leaders will
build on lessons learned during the first phase of the project and test
new interventions, using input from national experts through
consultations and webinars.
“The
Health Weight Collaborative may become a model for the nation,” health
department spokeswoman Diane Holm said, “and we wanted to help write the
model to ensure it was a good fit for our community.”
Sarasota
County served as one of 10 teams nationwide that participated in the
first phase of the program, which continues through July. In 2010, prior
to the project, Sarasota schools ignited a firestorm after they sent
letters to parents informing them that their children were overweight.
As
part of the collaborative, the county tried a new approach, one that
has been better received among parents. It began sending Healthy Goal
Worksheets home with elementary students to assess family health and
lifestyles. School nurses will follow up with families regarding their
goals.
Groups such
as BikeWalkLee, Child Care of Southwest Florida, the Children’s
Hospital of Southwest Florida, Family Health Centers of Southwest
Florida and the Lee Memorial Health System Parish Nurse Program will
lend ideas for initiatives to be tried in Lee.
“Everybody
who has something to gain or lose by this happening or not happening
(is involved),” said Dan Moser, of BikeWalkLee. “The hospitals have to
keep people out of the emergency rooms and out of their care. For the
health department, chronic disease is a major deal.”
This is great news indeed. Anything to help everybody achieve better health is hugely welcome.
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