The Southern Area of The Links, Incorporated
Commission On Childhood Obesity Prevention
Obesity Prevention Among
African American Children
Presented by: Henrie M. Treadwell, Ph.D.
Chair, The Commission on Childhood Obesity Prevention
Call To Action on Childhood
Obesity History and Background
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May 2007-Area Director Announces Childhood
Obesity - Focused Program Initiative
February 2008-Childhood Obesity Initiative officially
launched
Summer 2008-Produced a documentary on chapters’
work and established partnership with Community
Voices of Morehouse School Of Medicine
October 2008-Co-hosted Inaugural Meeting of The
Commission On Childhood Obesity Prevention
(COCOP)
May 2009- Impaneled The COCOP
October 2009- Co-hosted Meeting of The COCOP
The Commission On
Childhood Obesity Prevention
Created to address the underlying causes of
childhood obesity among African-American
children through research,
education, and advocacy.
Commission Goals
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Establish a culturally tailored evidence-based framework for
improving the health and well-being of African-American
children as it relates to obesity prevention.
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Heighten awareness and expand the knowledge base of
obesity and diabetes-related research, programs, and
community based prevention strategies that can positively
impact the lives of African American children.
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Identify and prioritize health policies which encourage
healthier African American children and families.
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Inform, support and enhance collaboration, partnership
development, and capacity building among stakeholders,
organizations, and agencies that promote childhood obesity
prevention.
Special 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
BROOK BELAY, M.D.
Senior Service Fellow
Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
The Centers for Disease Control
TRIESTA FOLWLER-LEE, M.D.
Medical Officer
Public Information and Communications
Branch of the Eunice Kennedy Shriver
National Institute of Child Health and
Human Development
RODNEY S. LYN, PH.D., M.S.
Assistant Professor
Institute of Public Health
Georgia State University
CALVIN WAYNE MCLARIN, M.D.
Clinical Associate Professor and Member
Medical Advisory Board
Morehouse School of Medicine
TONI MODDY, M.D.
Founder and Executive Director
Health Masters Club
JUDITH J. PICKENS, M.ED.
Senior Vice President
Program and Youth Development Services
Boys & Girls Clubs of America
AARON SHIRLEY, M.D.
Chairman
Jackson Medical Mall Foundation
Director
Community Health Services
University of Mississippi Medical Center
RUBY TAKANISHI, PH.D.
President
Foundation for Child Development in
New York City
HENRIE M. TREADWELL, PH.D.
Chair
Links Incorporated
Commission on Childhood Obesity
Director
Community Voices and Men’s Health Initiative
Research Professor
Community Health and Preventive Medicine
Morehouse School of Medicine
JOSEPH L. WEBSTER, SR, M.D.
Founder
Comprehensive Center for Digestive and
Nutritional Disorders
AAMBASSADOR ANDREW YOUNG
Humanitarian
The Scale and Scope of The Work
An Emerging Model vs.
The Traditional Research Model
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Guided by Expertise, Experiences and
Commitment of the Commissioners and Advisors
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Targeted on African-American Children
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Based on an approach that will determine what
community based organizations should do and
what policy makers must do to reverse and
prevent childhood obesity
African-American Children
and
Childhood Obesity
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Obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions among
African American children, particularly among AfricanAmerican girls.
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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:
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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
and
Childhood Obesity (cont’d)
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18.6 percent of African-American boys between ages
6-11 were overweight as compared with 15.5 percent of
their White counterparts (2003-2006)
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24.1 percent of African-American girls between ages
12-17 were overweight as compared with 14.6 percent
of their White counterparts (2003-2004)
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19.1 percent of African-American boys between ages
12-17 were overweight as compared with 19 percent of
their White counterparts (2003-2004) (CDC, 2009).
Source: National Survey of Children’s Health, 2007
States with The Highest Rates
Of Overweight and Obese
Children
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The states with the highest rates of children living in
poverty have corresponding rates of childhood obesity.
The states with the highest rates are Mississippi,
Georgia, Alabama, Louisiana, South Carolina, North
Carolina and Florida.
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These states comprise the Southern Area of The
Links, Inc.
Highest Rates Of
Obesity 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
Overweight Children
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First generation expected live sicker and die
younger than their parents
Higher Incidences of preventable diseases
Diabetes
Hypertension
High Cholesterol
Sleep Apnea
Fatty Liver
Psychological/Emotional
Economic Consequences
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1998-Medical Cost: $78.5 billion with
roughly half financed by Medicare and
Medicaid
2006-Increased prevalence of obesity of
$40 billion including seven billion in
Medicare prescription drug cost
2008-Estimates are that the Medical cost
of obesity will equal $147 billion per year
Source: Health Affairs 28, Number 5 (2009):W822-W831
Economic Burden
of Diabetes
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2007-Comprehensive Estimates suggest that the
burden of pre-diabetes and diabetes reached
$218 billion in 2007
--Estimate includes $153 Billion in higher medical
cost
--Estimate includes $65 billion in reduced
productivity
For each American, regardless of diabetes status, this
burden represents a cost of approximately $700 dollars
annually
Source: Health Affairs 29, Number 2 (2010):297-303
Policy Implications
The commission will address the following
policy areas:
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Improve school nutrition
Increase physical activity in schools
Increase the availability of well-lit sidewalks, bike
paths and parks in the community
Address the development of community gardens to
provide access to healthy produce
Community Driven Policy Issues (e.g., Food Deserts)
Intervening in Childhood Obesity
Prevention: A Strategic Conversation
With NACO
Dialogue on collaboration,
advocacy and policy
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Southern Area Director
Mary F. Currie
masatech@mindspring.com
Southern Area Program Coordinator
Delores Bolden Stamps, Ph.D.
boldenstamps@aol.com
Chair, The Commission on Childhood Obesity Prevention
Henrie M. Treadwell, Ph.D.
htreadwell@msm.edu