school project

1. “Fit Families For Life” Seaport Healthy Families Community Initiative April Norris The American Health Care System for Health Communicators Boston University MET HC 750 Summer 20111

2. U.S. Obesity StatisticsLow- Income Communities: CDC- one out of three low-income children nationwide are overweight or obese before their fifth birthday The highest levels of obesity rates occur among communities that have the highest poverty rates and least education United States Department of Agriculture – Minorities disproportionately affected by hypertension, heart disease, diabetes CDC - prevalence of obesity for African Americans is 51% higher than for white Americans, prevalence among Hispanic Americans 21 % Estimated, by 2015, 75% of U.S. adults will be overweight or obese Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2010 Obesity Trends, www.cdc.gov/obesity United States Department of Agriculture. http://www.usda.gov

3. Barriers: Many low income communities have limited access to healthy food options such as fresh produce & grocery stores (The American Journal of Preventive Medicinehttp://www.ajpmonline.org/current) Limited awareness & knowledge benefits of maintaining healthy diet and exercise Goals: Spread awareness - benefits healthy diet and a regular form of physical activity Increase access -healthy food options in the community Enable residents ability to make informed decisions Increase physical activity among Seaport’s residents focusing on Seaport’s public school system

4. Intervention: “It takes a Village”- School based nutrition & physical activity program - (CDC- child needs at lest 60 minutes of physical activity each day) - Sponsored by MassachusettsDepartment of Public Health “Mass in Motion Initiative” & Play Works Organization Community based nutrition & fitnessprogram Community Health Screenings (sponsored – Mass. Department of Public Health, American Medical Association) Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. http://abc.go.com/shows/jamie-olivers-food-revolution Play Works Organization http://www.playworks.org/ Farm to School .http://www.farmtoschool.org/ CDC-http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/children.html

5. Intervention, Cont. Revitalization Efforts: Community Gardens Project- (Farm to School & United States Department of Agriculture) Grocery Store Project- Conjunction with Grocery Manufacturers Association Recreational Areas- Safe Zone Networks parks, playgrounds, community gardens, and grocery stores (The United States Office of Housing and Urban Develop) Conclusion: Will provide Seaport residents & public school students with increased nutrition awareness & benefits of being active Remove barriers to access to healthy foods & to physical activity Increase access to prevention/wellness services American Journal of Public Health, 2007 http://ajph.aphapublications.org/cgi/reprint/97/3/509.pdf The United States Office of Housing and Urban Development http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD