Obesity grant plan

trims local tummies
By Scott Nicholson

After $400,000, a lot of exercise and nutrition tips, and a ton of fun, the Watauga County Childhood Obesity Prevention Project is stepping off the scales and celebrating a slimmer community.

“The many projects accomplished throughout this grant were through pooled resources and a combined passion to make a difference,” said Watauga Health Department educator Jennifer Greene.

“We feel really encouraged and energized,” she said.

“We have a real passionate group across the county that are committed and we believe this is the start of many positive community changes.”

Among the new projects are a proposed new section of the Greenway Trail system that will link the Daniel Boone Drive Extension neighborhood to the trail for easier access near the new Watauga High School.

A new Walk Boone map, developed by the Walk Boone committee, will be widely distributed this summer. It will highlight the Greenway Trail and areas for walking in Boone.

The Paul Broyhill Wellness Center and Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine assisted in providing a family nutrition and physical activity program designed to teach healthy lifestyles, with 24 families participating in the program directed by Dr. Clint Zimmerman.

N.C. Access Care of the Blue Ridge coordinated a special toolkit training for pediatric healthcare providers in addressing childhood overweight with patients and their families.

Twelve childcare facilities in Watauga County partnered with The Children’s Council to support healthy lifestyles for young children and their families. The Be Active-Appalachian Partnership assisted in providing training and physical activity programming for childcare providers. The Children’s Council also partnered with Greg Cox of Cox Fitness, Paul Broyhill Wellness Center, and Mabel Elementary to provide a “Biggest Mover” program designed by the Be Active-Appalachian Partnership.

The obesity-prevention effort included a community-wide campaign for Eat Smart, Move More North Carolina. The Watauga Education Foundation provided an opportunity for local youth by offering an Eat Smart, Move More NC commercial contest.

The contest winners’ videos are available on YouTube and are currently being aired on Mountain Television Network.

Leslie Roberts, Employee Wellness Coordinator for Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, provided incentive and education based programs for the system employees. To date, ARHS employees have lost over 1,500 pounds in their Weight Loss Challenge.

Watauga County Schools implemented many programs to demonstrate their commitment to student and staff wellness and was a recent recipient of $41,667 grant provided by the North Carolina Board of Education due to their current commitment demonstrated through the Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project Grant.

Appalachian State University partnered with NCAAHPERD to provide training and technical assistance for the In School Prevention of Obesity and Disease program. This program includes a special fitness testing program called FitnessGram and a physical education curriculum called SPARK (Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids).

The N.C. Cooperative Extension Service coordinated efforts to promote a Farm to School program. Healthy cooking classes were held in all afterschool programs in Watauga County and local produce taste tests occurred at Mabel and Bethel Elementary School.

The Watauga County Childhood Obesity Prevention Partnership will continue to partner with the extension service to pilot school gardening projects at Mabel and Bethel Elementary School.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey was conducted at Watauga High School with all participating students in grades 9-12. Watauga County Healthy Carolinians and Appalachian State University led recruitment efforts to secure volunteers to proctor the survey.

The survey results will be specific to Watauga County youth, and are expected by August 2009.

“Though we’ve expended this year’s grant funds, the Watauga County Childhood Obesity Prevention Partnership is committed to continuing our vision of creating healthy places for the people of Watauga County to eat smart and move more where they live, learn, earn, play, and pray,” Greene said.

Partners included Access Care of the Blue Ridge, Appalachian Regional Healthcare System, Appalachian State University, Be Active-Appalachian Partnership, Blue Ridge Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine, N.C. Cooperative Extension Service of Watauga County, The Children’s Council, the Town of Boone, Watauga County Board of Commissioners, Watauga County Schools and Board of Education, Watauga County Healthy Carolinians, Watauga County Farmer’s Market, Watauga Education Foundation and local media.

Greene said the efforts would be carried forward. “We’re continue looking at local resources and seek additional grant funds, and continue to collaborate across our agencies and our partnerships,” she said.

“It’s proven our ability to accomplish a lot if we work together.”

Greene said the project is still collecting information but has found positive impacts and success stories of lifestyle changes. While many of the changes are subjective, several weight-loss efforts racked up over 2,000 lost pounds.

To learn more about the project, contact Jennifer Bryan Greene at the health department at (828) 264-4995 or by email at jen.bryan@apphealth.com.

Wrap-Up
The Childhood Obesity Prevention Demonstration Project will host a wrap-up event on Sat., May 30 at the Boone Mall from 11a.m. until 3 p.m.
Events include the Family FunFest and the Community Healthy Cooking Contest.
The finalists in the cooking contest will attend the Family FunFest to serve samples of their recipe and two will have a chance at winning a $100 gift card to the Boone Mall. There will be a Local Favorite Winner—voted on by the community and a Celebrity Judges Favorite. Celebrity judges include Sen. Steve Goss, Rep. Cullie Tarleton, Ray Russell from Ray’s Weather, and Sherrie Norris from “All About Women.”
The Family FunFest will have air walks for all ages, a giant rock wall, giant slide, obstacle course, moon walk and more, as well as a Hula Hoop contest.