by David Chapman
Staff Writer
A lot can happen in the span of nine months.
Dramatic weather changes. Sports seasons begin and end — or last even longer, it seems, if it’s the NBA or NHL. Most people might associate the time frame as the length of a healthy pregnancy, from conception to birth.
But, similar to pregnancy, a study into the health of children can be born and progress to the point where the time for study turns into a time for action.
Such a call for action took place Friday at the Duval County Health Department, where close to 100 people including those in health care, the public and business professionals gathered to hear the results of the “2009 Healthy kids, Health Jacksonville: A Community Call to Action” and the next course of action in reducing childhood obesity in Jacksonville.
“The study represents a success for our children and the health of our community,” said Dr. Donald George, who along with Healthy Jacksonville Director Dana Fields-Johnson and Dr. Jonathan Evans chaired the effort.
According to a 2006 Florida Youth Tobacco Survey cited in the study, nearly 30 percent of all middle school and 28 percent of high school students in Jacksonville reported weights and heights that classified them as overweight or obese. Coupled with the results of the 2007 Presidential Physical Fitness Test implemented that cited 70 percent of students scored below average on the tests, the problem is one that requires more awareness and action, said DCHD Senior Health Planner Karen Coleman.
To combat the issue, the Healthy Jacksonville Childhood Obesity Prevention Coalition led community meetings, work and focus groups to recommend the best practices for solving the problems that lead to childhood obesity.
The detailed results are broken down into seven sectors — the City, health care systems and providers, schools, early childhood advocates, community, faith and youth organizations and the media — in a manner that is “realistic and could be implemented,” said Coleman.
The project was funded in part by The Blue Foundation for a Healthy Florida – the philanthropic affiliate of BlueCross BlueShield of Florida — which will continue to fund the project moving forward through a grant of around $200,000 that will be spread among programs and projects that assist in the fight against childhood obesity.
“It’s important that different programs develop projects so we can work across each sector and weave them all together for a unified approach,” said Dr. Michael Hutton, Blue Foundation grants and policy implementation director, who announced the funding.
Similar childhood obesity studies will follow in Orlando, Miami, Tampa and Tallahassee, but Jacksonville was the first due to pre-existing efforts of the community to look into the issue, said Blue Foundation Executive Director Susan Towler.
While the results shine a light on the problem and the course ahead, it’ll be the implementation of the recommendations that truly make the difference in children’s health for the future.
“It’s our road map,” said Hutton.
Organizations and agencies inquiring about grant funds that could be used toward their childhood obesity projects and programs should contact Coleman at [email protected]. Deadline for proposals is July 31.
To see the complete study, go to www.dchd.net or call 253-2520 to request a copy.
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