2005 Community Report - Brandywine Health Foundation

More documents

Recommendations

Info

ADDRESSING CHILDHOOD WEIGHT MANAGEMENT The incidence of overweight children has reached epidemic proportions in the United States. According to the American Obesity Association, 30 percent of children ages 6 to 19 are overweight and 15 percent are obese. In Coatesville, approximately 37 percent of children ages 6-12 and 26 percent of children ages 13-17 are at risk for obesity, according to the Philadelphia Health Management Corporation’s 2002 Community Health Database. While the overweight problem affects children at all income levels, one of the factors at work in Coatesville is low socioeconomic status: Nearly a third of Coatesville children under 18 come from families living below the poverty level, according to the 2000 U.S. Census. Also, while weight management programs exist in surrounding communities, transportation problems and fees charged by such programs prevent many Coatesville residents from participating. To address this critical issue, which has significant implications for the healthcare system, the Foundation funded a pilot project in spring 2005 at South Brandywine Middle School. The project was a collaborative effort of the Southeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center of West Chester, the West Chester University Department of Public Health and the Coatesville Area School District. The 16-week pilot, in which 19 girls participated, included two 90-minute sessions after school each week. Each session involved hands-on nutrition education and a half hour of walking or hip-hop dance instruction. The goal: increase the girls’ awareness of the lifelong benefits of physical activity and healthy eating and eliminate sedentary lifestyles. “I needed to learn more about how to eat healthy, and I really liked the hip-hop classes,” says Laura Selin. “It inspired me to just get out there and move.” Currently a 7th-grader at South Brandywine, she now snacks on vegetables instead of potato chips and sweets, and walks home from school with a friend. Laura, in turn, inspired her mother, Polly Selin. She rethought the food she was preparing for her family, joined Weight Watchers, lost 18 pounds and is now working out regularly at the local YMCA. “It made me realize Laura’s really following my lead,” she says. The Foundation not only funded the program, but also an evaluation of its effectiveness. Tammy James, Ph.D., associate professor of health education at West Chester University, conducted the evaluation and surveyed respondents like the Selins to determine program effectiveness and potential improvements. She concluded that the after-school nature of the program was convenient and effective and that the girls felt more comfortable with the all-female “It inspired me to just get out there and move.” Laura Selin, student South Brandywine Middle School 6
program. The girls either lost or maintained their weight, enhanced their nutritional knowledge and moderately increased their physical activity. As a result of James’ evaluation, the program will be repeated at South Brandywine Middle School this school year. And as a parents’ survey requested, the program will incorporate more parental involvement, particularly enhanced education on the benefits of healthy eating and exercise for these influential role models. “It requires a comprehensive approach,” concludes James. “We can’t expect parents or schools to address this issue alone. It takes a coordinated effort among parents, schools and communities.” 7
Page 1 and 2: OUR SAFETY NET JUST GOT STRONGER Br
Page 3 and 4: IMPROVING OUR COMMUNITY’S HEALTH
Page 5 and 6: “Any place that is going to help
Page 7: TRAINING PARAMEDICS TO ENHANCE EMER
Page 11 and 12: COMPETITIVE GRANTS SAFETY NET FOR T
Page 13 and 14: FINANCIAL REPORT INVESTMENT POLICY:
Page 15 and 16: when setting up a private foundatio
Page 17 and 18: Mr. and Mrs. Richard Franklin Congr
Page 19 and 20: The Brandywine Health & Wellness Fo

2005 Community Report - Brandywine Health Foundation

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?