Childhood Obesity: The Role of Health Policy - Association of ...

Goal 4: Enhance healthcare professionals’ advocacy and role in the policy process
As there was with tobacco smoking, there is a clear
need for clinician and other health professional advocacy
and engagement in educating policymakers about
childhood obesity. At each level of this epidemic,
health professionals should be actively engaged in
reversing the trend: At: at the community level
through schools, day- care centers, and local boards
and commissions; at the state level through government
advisory boards, elected officials, voluntary and
state professional associations; and at the national
level, through national professional associations, voluntary
organizations, and elected officials.
“Health professionals are highly
respected by policy makers and politicians.
They bring immense credibility
to the discussion and can make a huge
difference in the outcomes of advocacy
and lobbying activities.”
Scott Gee, MD, FAAP
Kaiser Permanente - Northern California
Strategy 1: Reframe the public and policy dialogue on childhood obesity
• Healthcare stakeholders should work together (with philanthropic support and researchers) to craft
a set of key messages for policymakers that make clear the role of public policy in helping individuals
achieve and maintain a healthy lifestyle.
• Health professionals should make themselves available to the media as resources for expert
information and local dimensions when new findings or reports on childhood obesity are released.
• State and local governments should participate with others in re-framing the issue of childhood
obesity from one of solely personal responsibility to one that acknowledges the role of government in
helping to support healthy choices on the parts of individuals.
Strategy 2: Be champions for comprehensive approaches
• All clinical providers should participate as full, effective partners in broader efforts to address
childhood obesity.
• All clinical providers should use the power of the bully pulpit and the authority afforded clinicians to
advocate for comprehensive strategies to address childhood obesity.
• Healthcare professionals should learn from existing champions and engage in more effective
advocacy at the local, state and national levels and promote comprehensive- and prevention-focused
approaches to childhood obesity.
• Healthcare professionals should become active with their local early-childhood providers and school
governance structures (e.g., principals, boards, wellness councils) to serve as clinical experts and
resources to shape healthier nutritional and activity policies.
• Health professional associations should expand the tools, resources and training available to
clinicians to become effective advocates and/or work with unfamiliar sectors (e.g., schools, city
councils, etc).
• Health plans should Actively join broad community and state coalitions in advocating for obesityrelated
policies.
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