Childhood Obesity Prevention Watch the Video | Help with RealPlayer® Program Information Defining the Problem Steps Toward Solutions Resources

Childhood Obesity: Program Information

Why has excessive weight gain reached epidemic status among Kentucky children? And what can each of us do to help in our families, our communities, and our schools? This one-hour KET panel discussion on childhood obesity prevention is targeted to parents and school personnel. The goals of the program are to show how parents and children can adopt healthier eating and exercise habits and to describe how schools can make school lunches more nutritious and attractive.

The host for this informative discussion is Dr. Wayne Tuckson, a practicing physician in Louisville and host of the Louisville Health series. The panel members:

Janet Tietyen, Ph.D., R.D., lead author of a position paper on “Creating Communities To Reduce Childhood Overweight,” past president of the Kentucky Dietary Association, associate professor at the University of Kentucky Department of Nutrition and Food Science, and co-chair of the Growing Healthy Kids in Kentucky annual conference

Janey Thornton, director of child nutrition for the Hardin County Schools, vice president of the American School Nutrition Association, and former president of the Kentucky School Food Service Association

Anita Courtney, a registered dietitian with the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department who ran a summer program called VERB—It’s What You Do

Dr. Joan Griffith, a pediatrician and director of TEAMS (Teens Enjoying Active Management Systems) at the Kentucky Clinic in Lexington

Also featured are Megan Pollack, a 5th grader at Central Elementary School in Wingo; her mother, Tracy Pollack; and members of the Graves Elementary cross-country team and their coach, Noel Coplen. Noel is also the director of the Graves County Health Department.

Topics covered in the discussion include

• the scope and impact of the problem of childhood obesity in Kentucky
• the effects of obesity on children’s overall health and academic performance
• changes in our culture that have affected how children play and eat meals
• the role of the media in the problem and in potential solutions
• the role of physical education in schools
• school lunches
• how parents, communities, and schools can address the problem

In addition, the compelling, personal stories shared by Kasey Roberts and Megan Pollack show how each child’s decision to change her lifestyle has affected her family’s choices on meals and physical activities—and how those choices have led to success.

Kentucky residents may purchase videotapes of this and other KET Kids’ Health Specials. Call or e-mail KET Tape Duplication, (800) 945-9167 or .