How the University of Minnesota Plans to Lower Obesity Rates
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NWHF Staff
| Posted on: September 14th, 2010
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The University of Minnesota has received a $7 million National Institutes of Health grant to create a childhood obesity center that hopes to change the exercise and eating habits of more 530 Minnesota families.
Researchers plan to address the multiple social factors that can lead to obesity: lack of access to parks and walking trails, poor food options in low-income neighborhoods and excessive amounts of television and screen time.
Health advocates will work individually with families to keep them on track with weight and exercise goals and to connect them with educational resources.
Simone French, a childhood nutrition expert will direct the new center emphasizes that reducing obesity has little to do with “willpower.”
“Character flaws and willpower haven’t changed in the population, but yet the obesity prevalence is skyrocketing,” she said. “That tells you it’s not just someone’s lack of willpower or bad character.”
A whole fabric of societal influences are responsible, she said.
The researchers will focus on low-income, ethnically diverse families, and families with preschool children, whose dietary and exercise habits haven’t been formed.
The project involves prevention, so the researchers will not necessarily be selecting families or children who are already obese.
The researchers will also work with local stores to ensure they stock fresh produce and other healthful foods and will use schools in Minneapolis and St. Paul for the family education classes.
More on the project can be found here.
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In our society obesity has been a huge dilemma. According to the video called “How to get fat without really trying” suggest that obesity is skyrocketing, but it isn’t our fault as citizens; the government and food service have contributed to this huge concern. In comparison a post called “How the University of Minnesota plans to lower obesity rates” also suggest that this issue is no longer based on lack of will power or character, it’s based on society and what we plan to do to alleviate this issue.
First, to alleviate this problem there must be a starting point. According to the article “How the University of Minnesota plan to lower obesity rates”, they’ve decided to target children during early childhood. They aren’t only targeting obese children and families they are also targeting those who aren’t obese. The reasoning behind this is to prevent the problem before it arises. The advocates of University of Minnesota plan to work closely with families to connect them with educational resources. According to an article called “Childhood Obesity: Successes and failures of Preventative Intervention” suggest that 9 million school children are obese. Therefore educating families and children before the issue arises is an effort to prevent and alleviate this crisis.
Next, there are many possible solutions to fixing this crisis. However, some preventative actions are more effective than others. For example the article called “Childhood Obesity: Successes and Failures of Preventative Intervention” evaluates preventative measures and discovers that interventions targeted towards physical activity and diet weren’t as effective as interventions on targeting television viewing. This article in contrast with University of Minnesota’s efforts exemplifies that they are on the right track. University of Minnesota discussed that they will be addressing excessive television watching and lack of resources. Addressing television is an effective target because studies show that excessive television watching has played a huge role in obesity.
Lastly, according to other resources such as “Childhood obesity: Successes and failures in Preventative Intervention”, University of Minnesota is taking an effective step toward success. Although it is not fully known what will completely eliminate this crisis taking actions to prevent this crisis is exactly what the doctor has prescribed.
Resources:
1. “Childhood Obesity: Successes and Failures of Preventative Intervention.” EZproxy Authentication | Portland State Library. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://web.ebscohost.com.proxy.lib.pdx.edu/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=8&hid=106&sid=d052779b-2c32-4340-aaa3-0b6ee9d6d242@sessionmgr12>.
2. Category, By. “How the University of Minnesota Will Lower Obesity Rates.” Community Health Priorities - The Public’s Health in Oregon. Web. 10 Nov. 2010. <http://www.communityhealthpriorities.org/conversation>.