Obesity and Overweight Leadership Initiative

Obesity Leadership: Healthy Weight for Kids

ADA/ADAF Activities are focused around four areas identified by the ADAF Expert Panel: Family Focus, Community, Professional Development, and National Planning. The Activities are a combination of ADA and ADAF initiatives and focus on achieving a balance between nutrition and physical activity as a key concept.

Family Focus

Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Screening Tool

Funding has been provided for the first phase from the Ann Hertzler Fund. The planning group had three teleconferences and a meeting to begin identifying concepts for the tool. A summary of their discussion was published in the May 2002 Journal of the American Dietetic Association (J Am Diet Assoc). An application for the federal funding (MCHB) of the questionnaire developmental portion was re-submitted in April 2004. We are completing the update of the systematic review of literature and paper for submission to the Journal on childhood overweight is posted in the ADA Evidence Library. A paper drawing on this work was accepted as part of the Obesity Supplement scheduled for May 2005. The EAL is being updated and another paper summarizing the update will be prepare and submitted for publication in the Journal.

Child and Family Nutrition and Physical Activity Study

The ADAF, in partnership with Knowledge Networks, conducted a study to identify behaviors and attitudes that contribute to unhealthy weights in children and how families interact on these factors. The data from this survey indicate there is a real need to help parents be able to better help their kids develop health-promoting behaviors. (Feb 2004 J Am Diet Assoc)

Activate Partnership

We are involved with providing sources of information for the non-commercial web site being developed for "tweens" by Activate (a partnership between several organizations including IFIC and ADA). The web site prototype was created and tested by tweens. The web site, Kidnetic.com, was launched in June 2002 and received +300,000 hits in the first 2 months. An instructors guide has been developed to assist teachers in using the web site as an educational tool.

Healthy Lifestyle Research Study

The Motivational Interviewing training for 11 RDs and 10 pediatricians (plus 12 research team members) was held January 12 –13, 2002 in Atlanta Georgia with Ken Resnicow. The pilot study concluded in late summer/Fall 2004. Dietitians who attended are involved in developing the new pediatric CDR workshop. The 5 dietitians in the intensive arm of the study are collecting pilot data now. A follow-up research project is being submitted to NIH in a grant proposal in November 2005.

Evaluation of Obesity Coverage in North Carolina

BCBS of North Carolina and ADA are collaborating on a three year initiative to evaluate health, utilization and economic outcomes of MNT and lifestyle case management coverage for beneficiaries with obesity.

Healthy Parenting Initiative

A collaboration with the health insurance company, Wellpoint ,produced a user-friendly guide for families to help children achieve and maintain a healthy weight. It also serves as a way for doctors to bring up healthy weight issues with families.



Community Focus

Hearts N Parks

The Hearts N Parks program combines nutrition and physical activity events in parks/recreational facilities. The National Recreation and Parks Association employees in the 10/11 selected states were trained on implementation. Dietitians serving as state liaison advisors have been identified for: Arizona, Florida, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri , Nevada, Georgia, Illinois, New Mexico, and Ohio.

Champions Youth Nutrition and Fitness Grant

The General Mills Foundation awarded 50 grants of up to $10,000 each to non-profit organizations with innovative programs that help youth develop good nutrition and fitness habits over the next five years with assistance from ADA in evaluating and managing the program. May 2003 and 2004 winners are posted at www.eatright.org/. Each year the application is posted at www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/community/#Nutrition. Community Health Funding Week (Dec 15 2004) featured these grants.

Partners in Program Planning for Adolescent Health

ADA is in the eighth year of participation in this national collaborative effort. The two objectives for the next four years are the continued development of the web-based adolescent cases focusing on improving dietitian's skills in counseling adolescents (one is obesity/overweight) and the identification of a community assessment tool focusing on creating an environment promoting adolescent healthy weights. The community assessment tool initiative was highlighted in workshops in September 2004, March 2005, and September 2005. Evaluation of progress by participants is ongoing throughout 2006.



Professional Development

Position Papers

The Weight Management position paper was published in August 2002. The pediatric weight management position paper has been drafted and is being reviewed/revised based on an evidence-based analysis approach. The initial evidence analysis on treatment approaches is being posted on the Evidence Analysis Library as it is completed.

Weight Management Certificates

The Adult Weight management and Pediatric weight management certificate program are highly popular and continue to be offered several times per year.

Weight Management Dietetic Practice Group

A dietetic practice group focusing on weight management was formed in 2003. The first organizational meeting was held at FNCE 2002. The group has almost 4,000 members and is the fourth largest practice group within ADA.

FNCE Sessions

Many FNCE sessions each year address obesity/overweight topics for all ages. The ADAF continues to offer a Pre-FNCE Healthy Weight for Kids Symposium. This year the Harvard Symposium on Obesity will be Tuesday afternoon.

Publications

The American Dietetic Association Guide to Healthy Eating for Kids: How Your Children Can Eat Smart from 5 to 12, co-published in cooperation with John Wiley & Sons, Inc. was released for sale in August 2002 through bookstores and distributors such as Borders and Amazon.com. If Your Child is Overweight – a client education booklet – has been revised and was released in October 2002. This publication is available to dietitians and consumers through ADA. Child and Adolescent Obesity: The Health Professional’s Guide to Identification, Treatment and Prevention was released in 2004.

Evidence Based Analysis and Guides for Practice

Guides for adult and pediatric weight management are under development and projected to be completed in 2006. In addition, evidence analysis has begun for nutrition therapy in bariatric surgery.

Professional Development Tele-seminars

Teleconference seminars have been offered on adult and pediatric bariatric surgery, pediatric obesity, and weight loss fads. The most popular are archived on the ADA web site.



National Planning

Public Policy Strategies to Reduce Prevalence of Obesity/Overweight and Overview of Obesity Related Government Relation Activities

The Board of Directors approved the concept paper that outlines public policy principles and strategies that will guide testimony and positions on legislative issues. More info at www.eatright.org/Public/GovernmentAffairs/98_12035.cfm

Healthy School Summit

ADA is an active participating organization in the Healthy School Summit focused on creating a healthy nutritional environment at school for children.

Exploring Alliances for Behavioral Change

The Obesity Steering Committee recommended exploring an alliance of organizations supporting behavioral change.

Last updated October 2005