The Southern Area of The Links, The Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated Incorporated Commission On Childhood Obesity Commission On Childhood Obesity PreventionPrevention

Obesity Prevention AmongObesity Prevention Among

African American ChildrenAfrican American Children

Presented by: Henrie M. Treadwell, Ph.D.Chair, The Commission on Childhood Obesity Prevention

Call To Action on Childhood Call To Action on Childhood Obesity History and Obesity History and BackgroundBackground

May 2007-Area Director Announces Childhood May 2007-Area Director Announces Childhood Obesity - Focused Program InitiativeObesity - Focused Program Initiative

February 2008-Childhood Obesity Initiative February 2008-Childhood Obesity Initiative officially launched officially launched

Summer 2008-Produced a documentary on Summer 2008-Produced a documentary on chapters’ work and established partnership with chapters’ work and established partnership with Community Voices of Morehouse School Of Community Voices of Morehouse School Of MedicineMedicine

October 2008-Co-hosted Inaugural Meeting of October 2008-Co-hosted Inaugural Meeting of The Commission On Childhood Obesity The Commission On Childhood Obesity Prevention (COCOP)Prevention (COCOP)

May 2009- Impaneled The COCOPMay 2009- Impaneled The COCOP October 2009- Co-hosted Meeting of The October 2009- Co-hosted Meeting of The

COCOPCOCOP

The Commission On The Commission On Childhood Obesity Childhood Obesity

PreventionPrevention

Created to address the underlying causes of Created to address the underlying causes of

childhood obesity among African-American childhood obesity among African-American

children through research,children through research,

education, and advocacy. education, and advocacy.

Commission GoalsCommission Goals

Establish a culturally tailored evidence-based Establish a culturally tailored evidence-based framework for improving the health and well-being of framework for improving the health and well-being of African-American children as it relates to obesity African-American children as it relates to obesity prevention.prevention.

Heighten awareness and expand the knowledge base Heighten awareness and expand the knowledge base of obesity and diabetes-related research, programs, of obesity and diabetes-related research, programs, and community based prevention strategies that can and community based prevention strategies that can positively impact the lives of African American positively impact the lives of African American children.children.

Identify and prioritize health policies which encourage Identify and prioritize health policies which encourage

healthier African American children and families.healthier African American children and families.

Inform, support and enhance collaboration, Inform, support and enhance collaboration, partnership development, and capacity building partnership development, and capacity building among stakeholders, organizations, and agencies that among stakeholders, organizations, and agencies that promote childhood obesity prevention.promote childhood obesity prevention.

    

Special AdvisorsSpecial Advisors

William H. Dietz, M.D., Ph.D.Director, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity

Obesity Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

James R. Gavin III, MD, Ph.D.Clinical Professor of Medicine, Emory University

CEO and Chief Medical Officer, Healing Our Village

David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D.Director, Satcher Health Leadership Institute

Morehouse School of Medicine

Commissioners

The Scale and Scope of The WorkThe Scale and Scope of The Work An Emerging Model vs. An Emerging Model vs.

The Traditional Research ModelThe Traditional Research Model

Guided by Expertise, Experiences andGuided by Expertise, Experiences andCommitment of the Commissioners and AdvisorsCommitment of the Commissioners and Advisors

Targeted on African-American ChildrenTargeted on African-American Children

Based on an approach that will determine whatBased on an approach that will determine whatcommunity based organizations community based organizations should do should do and and what policy makers what policy makers must do must do to reverse and to reverse and prevent childhood obesityprevent childhood obesity

African-American Children African-American Children and and

Childhood ObesityChildhood Obesity

Obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions among African American children, particularly among African- American girls.

In 2003-2004, African-American children between ages 6 -17 were 1.3 times as likely to be overweight than Non-Hispanic Whites (CDC, 2009). Gender specific data shows that:

 

24 percent of African-American girls between ages 6-11 were overweight as compared with 14 percent of their White counterparts (2003-2006)

Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007

  

African-American Children African-American Children and and

Childhood Obesity (cont’d)Childhood Obesity (cont’d) 18.6 percent of African-American boys between 18.6 percent of African-American boys between

ages ages 6-11 were overweight as compared with 15.5 6-11 were overweight as compared with 15.5 percent of their White counterparts (2003-2006)percent of their White counterparts (2003-2006)

24.1 percent of African-American girls between 24.1 percent of African-American girls between ages ages 12-17 were overweight as compared with 14.6 12-17 were overweight as compared with 14.6 percent of their White counterparts (2003-2004)percent of their White counterparts (2003-2004)

19.1 percent of African-American boys between 19.1 percent of African-American boys between ages ages 12-17 were overweight as compared with 19 12-17 were overweight as compared with 19 percent of their White counterparts (2003-2004) percent of their White counterparts (2003-2004) (CDC, 2009).(CDC, 2009).

Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007

States with The Highest States with The Highest Rates Of Overweight and Rates Of Overweight and

Obese ChildrenObese Children

The states with the highest rates of children The states with the highest rates of children living in poverty have corresponding rates of living in poverty have corresponding rates of childhood obesity. The states with the highest childhood obesity. The states with the highest rates are Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, rates are Mississippi, Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina and Louisiana, South Carolina, North Carolina and Florida.Florida.

These states comprise the Southern Area of These states comprise the Southern Area of The The

Links, Inc.Links, Inc.

Highest Rates Of Highest Rates Of Obesity by StateObesity by State

States With Highest Rates of Overweight and Obese 10-to 17-Year Olds

Rankings States Percentage

1 Mississippi 44.4%

3 Georgia 37.3%

6 Alabama 36.1%

7 Louisiana 35.9%

13 South Carolina 33.7%

14 North Carolina 33.5%

17 Florida 33.1%

Health Consequences for Health Consequences for Overweight ChildrenOverweight Children

First generation expected live sicker and First generation expected live sicker and die younger than their parentsdie younger than their parents

Higher Incidences of preventable diseasesHigher Incidences of preventable diseases DiabetesDiabetes HypertensionHypertension High CholesterolHigh Cholesterol Sleep ApneaSleep Apnea Fatty LiverFatty Liver Psychological/EmotionaPsychological/Emotionall

Economic Economic ConsequencesConsequences

1998-Medical Cost: $78.5 billion with 1998-Medical Cost: $78.5 billion with roughly half financed by Medicare and roughly half financed by Medicare and MedicaidMedicaid

2006-Increased prevalence of obesity 2006-Increased prevalence of obesity of $40 billion including seven billion in of $40 billion including seven billion in Medicare prescription drug costMedicare prescription drug cost

2008-Estimates are that the Medical 2008-Estimates are that the Medical cost of obesity will equal $147 billion cost of obesity will equal $147 billion per yearper year

Source: Health Affairs 28, Number 5 (2009):W822-W831

Economic Burden Economic Burden of Diabetesof Diabetes

2007-Comprehensive Estimates suggest that the 2007-Comprehensive Estimates suggest that the burden of pre-diabetes and diabetes reachedburden of pre-diabetes and diabetes reached

$218 billion in 2007$218 billion in 2007

--Estimate includes $153 Billion in higher --Estimate includes $153 Billion in higher medical medical

costcost

--Estimate includes $65 billion in reduced --Estimate includes $65 billion in reduced

productivityproductivity For each American, regardless of diabetes For each American, regardless of diabetes

status, this burden represents a cost of status, this burden represents a cost of approximately $700 dollars annuallyapproximately $700 dollars annually

Source: Health Affairs 29, Number 2 (2010):297-303

Policy Implications Policy Implications The commission will address the following The commission will address the following

policy areas: policy areas: 

Improve school nutritionImprove school nutrition Increase physical activity in schoolsIncrease physical activity in schools Increase the availability of well-lit sidewalks, bike Increase the availability of well-lit sidewalks, bike

paths and parks in the communitypaths and parks in the community Address the development of community gardens to Address the development of community gardens to

provide access to healthy produce provide access to healthy produce   Community Driven Policy Issues (e.g., Food Deserts)Community Driven Policy Issues (e.g., Food Deserts)

  

Intervening in Childhood Obesity Intervening in Childhood Obesity Prevention: A Strategic Prevention: A Strategic Conversation With NACOConversation With NACO

Dialogue on Dialogue on collaboration, collaboration,

advocacy and policyadvocacy and policy

FOR MORE FOR MORE INFORMATION:INFORMATION:

Southern Area DirectorSouthern Area Director

Mary F. CurrieMary F. Curriemasatech@mindspring.com

Southern Area Program Coordinator               Southern Area Program Coordinator               

Delores Bolden Stamps, Ph.D.Delores Bolden Stamps, Ph.D.boldenstamps@aol.com  

Chair, The Commission on Childhood Obesity PreventionChair, The Commission on Childhood Obesity Prevention

Henrie M. Treadwell, Ph.D.Henrie M. Treadwell, Ph.D.htreadwell@msm.edu