ACFN
Leaders Speak Out on Successful Methods and Programs to Tackle
Obesity
Posted April 14, 2006
One of the greatest lessons ACFN learned from the 2005
TRIUMPH series was the importance of cultural relevance in health and
wellness programs. ACFN informally polled its 30-member advisory board
for insight on methods and programs that they have encountered in their
surrounding communities to tackle obesity. Below is a sampling of what
they said.
Jan Dodds, Ed.D., R.D.; Representative, Society
for Nutrition Education; Professor of Nutrition and Maternal and
Child Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
On involving family:
“In any nutrition intervention it is important
to listen to the audience to develop messages and appropriate activities. In
interventions with African-American schoolgirls, including adolescents,
it is important to include the mothers. In one project where the
girls were younger, the mothers were a welcome part of the activities. In
another, the focus groups revealed that the teens wished their mothers
could cook more and the mothers did too. However, they were working
two jobs so the weekend was the only time the families had to enjoy their
mom's or grandma's good cooking. Good food at meals builds on the
important strength that families are in many cultures.”
Mary Lee Chin, M.S., R.D., Nutrition Edge Communications
On being creative through cultural
relevance:
“You need to be creative and work with
the communities you’re targeting. In doing so, the Center for African-American
Health at the Denver Black Church Initiative came up with a step competition
called “Step’n for Life.” The program was culturally
relevant and unique to their culture, and it was fun. Nobody wants to do
any exercise, eating or any activity that is a chore. And because it had
elements of music, fun and incorporation of all ages, it had a wide appeal.
You can also be very creative with this program. It offers a lot of latitude
for people to come up with their own dance routines, and it is something
that doesn’t cost a huge amount of money. This makes the activity
very replicable. There is no limit to using your imagination in taking
this to other programs. You can create different music, different prizes
and have competition between so many different groups. To see an example
of this program please visit www.caahealth.org."
Lorena Drago, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., C.D.E., Hispanic-Latino
Educator Specialist
On setting personal goals:
“Engage each participant in an active
learning process. When participants set their own goals and apply the learned
skills, they will be more successful in attaining their goals."
George Blackburn, M.D., Ph.D., Harvard Medical
School
On community mobilization:
“The University of Massachusetts Extension
Nutrition Education Program provides individuals, families and community
members with the knowledge and skills to make informed choices about healthful
diets. Another program is Boston Steps, a community mobilization effort
to reduce the burden of diabetes, asthma and obesity for residents in seven
Boston neighborhoods: Dorchester, Hyde Park, Jamaica Plain, Mattapan, Roxbury,
South Boston and South End/Chinatown. The Boston Steps message focuses
on 5-2-1-0 for better health and encourages children, adolescents and adults
to make health lifestyle changes such as eating at least five servings
of fruits and vegetables daily, limiting children’s TV viewing and
video game playing to 2 hours, engaging in regular physical activity at
least once a day, and no cigarettes."
Phil Haberstro, Executive Director, National
Association for Health and Fitness
On the critical components:
“Among the critical components for
creating health/reducing youth obesity are addressing public
policy and the built environment. In New York state, the state
wide ‘Walk your children to School’ and ‘Safe routes
to school’ campaigns have been effective in engaging students, faculty
and parents to impact policy and the built environment around
schools to encourage physical activity. For more information on statewide
campaigns visit www.BeActiveNys.org.”
To read more detailed excerpts of the ACFN Advisory Board’s
dialogue on the subject, click here.
To view a list of the members of the ACFN Advisory Board
and their bios, click here.
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