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October 23, 2007
For Immediate Release
The Pediatric Foundation of Hawaii is excited to unveil the first Hawaii Pediatric Weight Management Toolkit. Designed in response to the childhood obesity epidemic here in Hawaii it will be presented to the medical community at a seminar, Pediatrics Island Style: A Hawaii Approach to Pediatric Weight Management, on Thursday, November 8, 2007, at the Hilton Hawaiian Village.
In Hawai‘i, childhood obesity constitutes one of our most pressing health problems today. Obesity in children has been associated with the growing incidence of type II diabetes, poor self-esteem, and poor health as adults. Some communities in Hawai‘i have much higher rates of obesity when compared to the rest of the nation.
Since the pediatrician is usually the first line of intervention with a child’s health, anticipatory guidance from pediatricians and family physicians is likely to offer an effective intervention to evaluate, treat and prevent obesity. Thus the American Academy of Pediatrics, Hawaii Chapter (HAAP) has designated pediatric obesity as the health issue in need of a long term focused local strategy.
With funding from the HMSA Foundation, development of the toolkit involved assembling a team of committed professionals who surveyed the available literature, devised a strategy, and drafted the toolkit materials. The draft materials were then focus-group tested by pediatricians in the community and parents of overweight children. Attention was paid to local foods and activities to make the material as culturally relevant to our Hawaii population as possible.
Parent-focused interventions show the greatest promise for creating persistent or long-term changes in children’s diet and physical activity. Changes that include the whole family and not just the at-risk child are more likely to be effective.
The November 8th training is directed at primary care pediatricians, family practitioners, nurse practitioners, public health nurses, registered dieticians and other health care professionals who care for the pediatric population. Each attendee will receive a copy of the toolkit. Continuing education is being offered to physicians, nurses and dieticians who attend.
Future activities include meeting with the Department of Health and the Department of Education, both of whom have new programs (DOH - Hawaii Physical Activity and Nutrition Plan, DOE - Wellness Guidelines) directed at achieving a healthier lifestyle. It is desirable to forge a partnership between HAAP, primary care pediatricians and the DOH and DOE. Working in concert, such a partnership has the potential to move our community into a different mindset with a focus on a healthier diet and increased physical activity and a consequent reduction in pediatric obesity in Hawaii.
For specific information on the November 8, 2007 program please see: http://www.hawaiiaap.org/pdfs/PediatricsIslandStylewebbrochure.pdf Contact AAP-Hawaii Chapter
Kathryn Sthay, Executive Director
(808) 377-5738
aaphawaii@hawaiiantel.net |
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