Healthy affair at the Children's Museum of Manhattan

New York Amsterdam News
By MISANI

Last Friday, the Acting Surgeon General, Steven K. Galson, M.D., M.P.H., presented the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Champion Award to the Children's Museum of Manhattan (CMOM) and the Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS), for their efforts in helping to combat childhood obesity. Accepting the awards on behalf of their organizations were Andrew Ackerman, director of CMOM and Wanda Montalvo, R.N., M.S.N., A.N.P., chief clinical programs officer of CHCANYS.

A first for New York State, the award applauds CMOM and CHCANYS for their collaborative efforts on a comprehensive, new anti-obesity initiative that encourages physical activity through direct family interaction. In addition, the program also promotes the establishment of parent health ambassadors in low-income, at-risk communities, as well as offering professional development for health educators.

The CMOM/CHCANYS initiative is part of the National Institute of Health's WE CAN! (Ways to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition) program. The science-based WE CAN! program is a national education initiative designed to help children maintain a healthy weight through programs that promote an active lifestyle and healthy eating habits as well as (making) healthy choices.

Pooling with numerous partners in the community, CMOM/CHCANYS integrate CMOM's creative educational methods with the medical and diagnostic expertise of community health centers. Through this viable program, CMOM/CHCANYS are able to reach into low-income communities and the relationships it has developed with families. All of this supports the idea that community-wide collaborations are necessary to provide and reinforce positive behavior.

In presenting the award, Galson, who was in New York on an ongoing "Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future" tour, which serves to bring attention promising, community-based programs such as CMOM/CHCANYS, said: "I am pleased to present the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Healthy Youth for a Healthy Future Champion Award to the Children's Museum of Manhattan and the Community Health Association of New York State, and to highlight their efforts to address the critical needs of children who may be susceptible to obesity."…

Prior to giving the awards, however, Dr. Galson share three staggering statistics: “In the U.S., 12.5 million children and adolescents—17.1 percent of people ages 2 to 19 years—are overweight. In addition, nearly half of all elementary school children (43 percent) and Head Start children (42 percent) in New York are overweight or obese. Among New York City high school students, about 12 percent are considered obese, as they are greater than the 95th percentile for BMI.”

Galson further revealed, “The obesity epidemic is real and its implications, especially for young people, are profound.” He then pointed out these facts:

1) Childhood overweight prevalence nearly tripled for children ages 6 to 11 since 1980. Today approximately 9 million children over the age of 6 are considered overweight in this county.

2) Overweight children are at a far greater risk for numerous health consequences, including cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and other chronic diseases.

3) The federal government first identified childhood overweight and obesity prevention as a national health priority seven years ago.

Galson cautioned, “The stakes are higher today!” He then urged the collective participation of everyone in changing the eating and activity habits of American children. He also offered plausible solutions, saying “By educating individuals and families about their good nutrition, the value of healthy choices, the importance of preventive medicine, medical screening, the delay and, ultimately, prevention of overweight and obesity is possible.”

In commending CMOM/CHCANYS, Galson said, “The work and leadership of the Task Force membership is impressive.” In addition, he said: “Your outreach to schools, your efforts to encourage them to include lessons about physical activity and nutrition in their curriculum is especially important…what you are doing shows you ‘get it’ here in New York City!”

(Part 2 continues next week with the CMOM model, which the Surgeon General will promote for duplication in other communities.)