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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Grant to Address Health California
State University, Chico, in partnership with a number of public and
private entities, has received a $590,000 grant to oversee a program in
Butte County for the prevention of unhealthy weight gain in children and
the treatment of overweight children. The program is titled OPT
(Overweight, Prevention, and Treatment) for Fit Kids. Data
collected over the past five years shows an increase in the number of
county children who are in the 95th
percentile in weight for their age and height, reflecting a widespread
national trend. Overweight children experience health problems that can
extend into adulthood. The
Children and Families Commission of Butte County awarded the grant to the
university, which has also been awarded partial matching funds from the
California Nutrition Network. The program will have more than $700,000 to
aid county children for the three-year term of the grant. The
commission is directed to award funds from state tobacco tax money to
directly benefit the health of young children. Faye
Johnson, professor in the Nutrition and Food Sciences Program, and
Cindy Wolff, coordinator of the program, will oversee the grant
implementation. Wolff also wrote and was awarded an initial $40,000
planning grant for the effort to aid overweight children. Among
the partners in the grant are Enloe Medical Center, Butte County
Department of Public Health, Butte County WIC, Butte County UC Cooperative
Extension, the CA 5 A Day program, and Butte County Head Start. In
addition, Michele Brackett, health educator for Butte County's Department
of Public Health, has been assigned part-time to the project. Wolff
said diabetes, high blood pressure and elevated blood cholesterol, which
are often directly correlated to being overweight, are the chief health
concerns. She said very heavy children can exhibit early signs of
diabetes, which can lead to cardiovascular and other health problems.
Being overweight as a child is a strong predictor of being overweight as
an adult, Wolff said. Diet
is one culprit in the increase in overweight
children. "More and more families decide it's easier to eat out, and
choose high calorie fast food," said Johnson. "Also, with more
parents working, children are increasingly responsible for preparing their
own meals, resulting in more high-calorie, high-fat meals," she
added. Just
as important, however, is the lack of physical activity among many
children. Johnson said a decreasing number of children pass the fitness
exams given in elementary schools. She said fewer children walking to
school, and increasing hours of children playing video games and watching
TV, are contributing factors to the change. The OPT
for Fit Kids program has three components: medical nutrition therapy
services for overweight children and their families, an educational
awareness campaign for the public and nutrition education in schools.
Medical nutrition therapy services will be extended after overweight
children have been identified and referred by health care practitioners.
The families then have the opportunity to speak with a dietitian, attend
workshops and obtain related services. OPT
program services are free for children ages 5 and under and for low income
children ages 6 and up. Services are available on a sliding scale for all
others. The awareness campaign and nutrition education components of the
program will educate county residents about childhood health risks
associated with being overweight, and about strategies for promoting
healthy eating and activity practices. To
help introduce the program, a Pediatric Overweight Symposium was held Dec.
12, at the Enloe Conference Center and was attended by about 80 pediatric
health professionals. Dr.
Dennis Styne, pediatric endocrinologist from UC Davis, was keynote
speaker, presenting information on "Childhood Obesity and its
Complications: Facing a New
Epidemic." Dr. Mark
Lundberg, Health Officer, Butte County Department of Public Health, spoke
on "Pediatric Overweight Trends in Butte County," and Professor
Wolff spoke on "Using BMI to Assess Pediatric Patients and Local
Services Available for Pediatrics in Butte County." For more
information about the program, contact Cindy Wolff at 530-898-6164,
Michele Brackett at 530-891-2861 or Faye Johnson at 530-898-6767. ### 
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