County of Orange
Health Care Agency

Juliette A. Poulson, RN, MN
Director

Mark B. Horton, MD, MSPH
Deputy Agency Director/Health Officer
Public Health Services

Mailing Address:
515 N. Sycamore St.
Santa Ana, Ca 92701

E-Mail: PublicInfo@ochca.com
 

For Immediate Release
MONDAY APRIL 2, 2001

Contact: Howard Sutter
(714) 834-2178

Overweight Kids: Orange County Policy Makers Address Childhood Obesity Crisis

(Orange) - Children in Orange County are no exception to the staggering increase in childhood obesity in California, and the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) is taking a lead role in addressing the problem. A community forum entitled "Addressing Childhood Obesity: Changing the Rule to Favor Health," to be held Tuesday, April 3 from 10 a.m.-12 p.m at Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC), will rally together policy makers, elected officials and the community to address this public health crisis.

At the forum, Joel Cohen, author of the legislative report "Overweight Kids: Why Should We Care," will present the latest information about this disturbing trend, the problems and barriers that prevent children from living a healthy lifestyle and what policy makers can do to make a difference. The forum will also feature the presentation of a $169,000 check from the HealthCare Foundation of Orange County to Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian and Latino Health Access to fight pediatric obesity in Santa Ana.

County Health Officer Dr. Mark Horton will present an overview of the problem of childhood obesity in Orange County and he believes it is essential that local decision-makers understand the extent of the problem. "Local policy makers must be informed of the importance this issue to the health of children and families in order to facilitate overall community change," said Dr. Horton.

Statistics show that overweight teens have an 80% chance of becoming overweight adults and that can translate into skyrocketing health care costs. Cohen, an advocate in the battle against childhood obesity, cites increased consumption of fast food and high-sugar beverages combined with a sedentary lifestyle as the primary reasons that pediatric obesity is on the rise. Recent state research shows that many California children suffer from poor nutrition and physical inactivity, with one out of three teens and one out of four children at-risk for or already overweight. Additionally, decreased physical activity in schools and a shortage of low-cost physical activity programs compound the problem.

Many Orange County community organizations are already doing their part to fight childhood obesity. On April 25^th, The American Cancer Society will host Spring into Health to educate students about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. TV Turn-Off Week from April 23rd to April 29th will encourage children and families to turn-off the TV and get moving instead. On May 24^th, the Orange County Community Development Council, Inc. will host the Healthy Minds, Health Bodies, Healthy Community Conference 2001 to kick-off the 5 a Day/5 a Week campaign to promote improved nutrition and increased physical activity this summer in Orange County.

For more information on childhood obesity and what is being done in Orange County to combat this problem, contact David Thiessen, HCA Nutrition Services Program Manager, at (714) 834-8556.

###