Alison and Sue's blog

In March I had the opportunity to visit Healthy Schools Partnership (HSP) schools in Kansas City and Des Moines.  What struck me most during my visits were the energy, enthusiasm and involvement from faculty, staff and students at each of the schools.

The Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health and Human Services requested public comments and contributions to assist the newly created Task Force on Childhood Obesity. The Task Force has identified four focus areas:

Recently, we listened to the first in a series of webinars held by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation on Making Schools the Model for Healthier Environments. In a presentation called “Seizing the Moment: Efforts Underway to Improve Our Schools,” Jim Gerstein of Gerstein | Agne Strategic Communications, reported on findings from a recent national phone survey regarding the school meals program. Overwhelmingly, respondents hold schools responsible for making sure children are eating properly throughout the school day.

Last week I dialed into a teleconference originating from USDA’s new Broadcast Media and Technology Center. The event featured Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and representatives of the National Dairy Council reporting on Fuel Up to Play 60, a youth program (grades 4-8) sponsored by the National Dairy Council, the National Football League and, now, USDA as well.

Having the First Lady Michelle Obama deliver the keynote address at the U.S. Conference of Mayors, last week is a huge asset in ensuring childhood obesity receives the national attention it deserves. Mayors are the perfect partners to work with the First Lady, to drive solutions, as they provide leadership in their respective communities and care deeply about the welfare of their constituents.

Several years ago, ACFN asked several experts in the field to write a white paper on our scientific understanding of energy balance.  James O. Hill, PhD, co-founder of America on the Move, and Holly R. Wyatt, MD, both with the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center; along with Judith Young, PhD, American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance and John C.

The January 20 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) includes an article reporting that the rising rate of obesity in the U.S. may have slowed over recent decades. While this is great news, let’s not allow it to distract us from the work that remains. Rather, let’s use this positive momentum to fuel our efforts. The status quo isn’t good enough.

Katie Brown, Ed.D., RD, LD,
National Nutrition Education Director
RD Coach Project – American Dietetic Association Foundation