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Let’s Move Cities and Towns

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Wednesday, 01 December 2010 00:00

St. Cloud inspired by first lady’s initiative to combat child obesity
By Rick Madewell
Assistant Editor
A nationwide program called for by Michelle Obama has piqued the interest of the St. Cloud Parks and Recreation director, as well as some city officials and former city officials.
The Let’s Move Cities and Towns campaign is being promoted by the first lady to combat child obesity. Several city and town leaders across the nation have pledged support of the program and its implementation in St. Cloud is being researched.
Parks and Recreation director Julie Graf has approached the City Council for consideration of the program.
“The city of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Department provides a wide variety of recreation programs and activities for St. Cloud residents, including the city’s youngest residents,” Graf said. “As staff, we are researching the Let’s Move Cities and Towns campaign and, at City Council’s discretion, we would be coordinating it locally.”
Graf said there is local interest from parents in the program.
“The Parks and Recreation staff has received comments/concerns/feedback from parents whose children participate in our programs. We have seen an interest in our department assisting them in ensuring that their children grow up healthy. We are researching how the Let’s Move Cities and Towns Campaign would be beneficial to our residents,” she said.
Camille Bissainthe, public information officer with Osceola County Health Department, shared information gathered from 2008 that shows Osceola County may, indeed, be struggling with childhood obesity.
She said of the reported students in the county’s middle schools, 13.7 percent were above the 95th percentile for the body mass index (BMI) level, which measures body fat based on height and weight. The state’s rate is lower, at 11.3 percent, she said.
Self-reporting high school students, such as those who submitted to doctor testing, had a BMI rate of 12.7 percent in the county, while the state again was lower, at 11 percent.
Bissainthe said the percentage of students in Osceola County who go without sufficient, vigorous physical activity (30 minutes or more per day) stands at 34.7 percent for middle school students and 40.8 percent for high school students. For the state, those figures are 34.7 and 40.8 percent, respectively.
“It’s obvious the obesity rate is high in Osceola County,” Bissainthe said.
Belinda Johnson-Cornett, administrator with the county’s Health Department, said, "Obesity is a major health care concern for all age groups, and we support initiatives that have proven to be effective in dealing with the growing issue of childhood obesity. At Osceola CHD, we incorporate assessment and education of childhood obesity in our regular childhood check-up visits. Overweight children face many health risks and complications related to obesity, and are much more likely to become overweight adults unless they adopt and maintain healthier patterns of eating and exercise. Childhood obesity impacts entire communities, therefore, community-wide involvement and intervention is needed.”
Former St. Cloud Mayor Donna Hart said she could see the benefits of the program, especially with all the signs that childhood obesity is a significant problem throughout the nation.
“Childhood obesity is on the rise nationally, thus the reason for the program. It will reinforce what is provided in the health- ed classes at school in regard to nutrition,” she said. “Unfortunately, kids today are playing sedentary video games. If we can get them off the chair and active we will reduce obesity and we have to reduce the intake of processed foods. The program will focus on those criteria.”
Former St. Cloud Councilman Jay Polachek said he thought the idea was a very good one but more research needs to be done on how to implement it into the city.
“We (the council) thought it would be great,” he said. “Child obesity is a huge concern, not only here in St. Cloud, but everywhere.”
Councilman Jarom Fertic echoed Polachek’s outlook.
“It’s a good program if you can come up with a good game plan,” he said. “And the schools would be a good place to promote it.”
Let’s Move Cities and Towns is designed to encourage mayors and elected officials to adopt a long-term, sustainable, and holistic approach to fight childhood obesity. This initiative recognizes that every city is different, and every town will require a distinct approach to the issue. Once an elected official signs up as a prospective Let’s Move City or a Let’s Move Town, he or she will choose at least one significant action to take over the following 12 months in each of the four pillar areas:
• Help parents make healthy family choices
• Create healthy schools
• Provide access to healthy and affordable food
• Promote physical activity
According to the program’s literature, over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. One-third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives; many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer and asthma. A recent study put the health care costs of obesity-related diseases at $147 billion per year. This also impacts the nation’s security, as obesity is now one of the most common disqualifiers for military service.
Councilman Tom Griffin, though liking the idea of the program, said he is concerned about the cost implications.
“My first thoughts are that I would support the idea. My concerns about the initial presentation was in the fact that the staff wanted to fill a vacant position to man this program,” he said. “In this economy I want the city to realize the cost savings of this vacant position. I would think if it required the services of an FTE (full-time employee), that should be funded through a grant or reimbursement from the feds.”
Griffin added that this should not be a cost put on the shoulders of local government.
“No one can deny this county's rising rate of childhood obesity, but I don't think at this time it should come down to the local level to combat as an unfunded mandate,” he said.
“The city of St. Cloud Parks and Recreation staff is very passionate about the activities, programs and services offered to the community. Within these, we encourage healthy living,” Graf said. “At City Council’s discretion, we would assist the community in making positive choices to improve on/maintain a healthy lifestyle.”