The nonprofit group Partnership for a Healthier America held its inaugural "Building a Healthier Future" summit Nov. 29-30 at the Omni-Shoreham Hotel in Washington, D.C. More than 800 leaders in healthcare, academia and the public and private sectors attended the event, which focused on ending the childhood obesity epidemic in the U.S.
The summit's goal was to promote collaboration, innovation and solutions to prevent and solve childhood obesity within a generation and to establish a national agenda to improve children's health and welfare.
Former Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist, MD, who serves as PHA honorary vice chairman, highlighted, in his opening remarks, the need to help more mothers choose breast-feeding, citing a 20% decreased incidence of obesity in children who breast-feed.
James Gavin III, MD, PhD, chairman of the PHA board, announced new partnerships with The Fresh Grocer, Kaiser Permanente and Hyatt Hotels. The Fresh Grocer committed to building new grocery stores where families do not have access to healthy, affordable food. Kaiser's executive medical director Jeffrey A. Weisz, MD, announced it would require its maternal-child health facilities to become Baby-Friendly or participate in The Joint Commission's perinatal core measures program. Hyatt Hotels committed to increasing healthier options on its menus.
When asked about the roles healthcare providers play in combating and reversing childhood obesity, Gavin, Frist and Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker acknowledged nurses, physicians and nutritionists' efforts.
"Nurses really are the primary ones who can help the most," Frist said. "Doctors are a bit more removed in the advisory role than nurses are. [Nurses] are vital to be coaches in this process for patients and families."
During the summit, strong emphasis was placed on nutritional choices made by children and families and concept that making better food more accessible and affordable is one way to prevent both hunger and obesity.
In addition to dietary changes, first lady and honorary PHA chairwoman Michelle Obama spoke about the importance of "getting our kids moving again."
During her closing remarks, Obama gave an update on the PHA-supported Let's Move! campaign, which will unveil new tools and information for parents in 2012.
"What we do with nutrition is not enough. There is still more to do [regarding] the crisis of inactivity that we see among our kids," she said.
According to Obama, only 25% of American children play outside and only 33% of high school students get one hour of physical activity each day.
"The fact is that, today, we may well be raising the most sedentary generation of kids in the history of this country," she said. "We as a society need to redefine for kids what play is … and make playing cool again."
Jennifer Chaikin, RN-BC, MSN/MHA, CCRN, is executive director for educational initiatives for Gannett Education and Nurse.com.
The summit's goal was to promote collaboration, innovation and solutions to prevent and solve childhood obesity within a generation and to establish a national agenda to improve children's health and welfare.
Former Senate Majority Leader William H. Frist, MD, who serves as PHA honorary vice chairman, highlighted, in his opening remarks, the need to help more mothers choose breast-feeding, citing a 20% decreased incidence of obesity in children who breast-feed.
James Gavin III, MD, PhD, chairman of the PHA board, announced new partnerships with The Fresh Grocer, Kaiser Permanente and Hyatt Hotels. The Fresh Grocer committed to building new grocery stores where families do not have access to healthy, affordable food. Kaiser's executive medical director Jeffrey A. Weisz, MD, announced it would require its maternal-child health facilities to become Baby-Friendly or participate in The Joint Commission's perinatal core measures program. Hyatt Hotels committed to increasing healthier options on its menus.
When asked about the roles healthcare providers play in combating and reversing childhood obesity, Gavin, Frist and Newark, N.J., Mayor Cory Booker acknowledged nurses, physicians and nutritionists' efforts.
"Nurses really are the primary ones who can help the most," Frist said. "Doctors are a bit more removed in the advisory role than nurses are. [Nurses] are vital to be coaches in this process for patients and families."
During the summit, strong emphasis was placed on nutritional choices made by children and families and concept that making better food more accessible and affordable is one way to prevent both hunger and obesity.
In addition to dietary changes, first lady and honorary PHA chairwoman Michelle Obama spoke about the importance of "getting our kids moving again."
During her closing remarks, Obama gave an update on the PHA-supported Let's Move! campaign, which will unveil new tools and information for parents in 2012.
"What we do with nutrition is not enough. There is still more to do [regarding] the crisis of inactivity that we see among our kids," she said.
According to Obama, only 25% of American children play outside and only 33% of high school students get one hour of physical activity each day.
"The fact is that, today, we may well be raising the most sedentary generation of kids in the history of this country," she said. "We as a society need to redefine for kids what play is … and make playing cool again."
Jennifer Chaikin, RN-BC, MSN/MHA, CCRN, is executive director for educational initiatives for Gannett Education and Nurse.com.
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