Obesity Information for Health Care Providers

Fighting Childhood Obesity in Contra Costa County

A new epidemic is sweeping across the country and into our communities, and it's threatening the health and future of our children, as well as the future financial health and stability of our community's health care system.

Obesity and its associated illnesses are now infiltrating the youngest population-children ages five and under. In the past twenty-five years, the national prevalence of overweight two-to-five year old children has more than doubled.

To protect our children from this growing health crisis, Kaiser Permanente, First 5, and Families CAN have joined together with the Contra Costa Health Services Department to form Healthy and Active Before 5-a collaborative effort to develop a countywide action plan to address the problems of early childhood obesity.

Goal of Healthy and Active Before 5 - An Action Plan for Contra Costa

The goal of Healthy and Active Before 5 is to create a healthier Contra Costa by increasing options and support for healthy and active living in our county, focusing on positive, healthy alternatives and supportive environments. The result of this effort will be a meaningful, practical, and "do-able" action plan to protect our children and safeguard our communities' health for the decades ahead. The plan will encompass a wide perspective of forces that influence healthy eating and active living for children, from birth through five years, and their families.

In 2007, five community forums will be held throughout the county to ensure significant input from community residents and professionals from various sectors. Ideas and recommendations from the forums will be used to craft the action plan.

The Alarming Reality of Childhood Obesity^*

The health consequences are serious and long term.

• Overweight children are at risk for high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type II diabetes-diseases once seen predominantly in adults.
• It's estimated that up to 70% of overweight school children will remain overweight into adulthood.
• Overweight or obese individuals are more likely to be depressed and suffer from chronic diseases.In Contra Costa County
• 43% of children seen in Contra Costa Health Services clinics in 2005 were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
• 34% of Contra Costa County children, ages 24 - 59 months, of low-income families are either at risk of being or are already overweight.
• African American and Hispanic/Latino children, ages 5 - 19, are more likely to be overweight or obese than white and Asian children.
• 31% of fifth graders are either overweight or obese.The economic impact of this health crisis is equally dire; overweight children are more likely to become obese adults. Adult obesity costs the State of California taxpayers $25 billion each year.

^* As defined by national body mass index standards.

The Healthy and Active Before 5 Collaborative

Families CAN (Coalition for Activity & Nutrition) is a coalition of organizations and residents of Contra Costa County advocating and promoting healthy lifestyles through nutrition and physical activity for families and children.

Kaiser Permanente, founded in 1945, is a non-profit integrated health care organization that provides high quality care to patients and addresses the health care needs of the communities we serve.

Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) cares for and improves the health of all people in Contra Costa County with special attention to those who are most vulnerable to health problems.

First 5 Contra Costa strives to makes a difference in the lives of children, ages 0 to 5, and their families by investing in local programs and services designed to help children reach their greatest potential in school and life.

Join Healthy and Active Before 5 and help us improve the health and quality of life of our children. For more information, call 925-313-4694.

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