Summary of Promising Programs to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Health Disparities

researched and compiled by Eric Jacobson, Sarah McCloskey, Erin Kennedy, and Michele Sloan
originally published in 2004

Other Sources | Health Conditions | System-wide Inerventions | Specific Ethnic Groups

Obesity

last updated November 29, 2007

Illinois | Virginia | New York | Maryland | Great Obesity Program Database

Background
According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, there is a higher prevalence of obesity in African Americans and Hispanics, especially women; this trend has continued to grow over the past decade. Asian/Pacific Islanders have the lowest incidence of obesity compared with other minorities and whites. Statistics show that in 2005, 70 percent of African Americans and 60 percent of Hispanics are obese, with a BMI > 25. The incidence of obesity in minorities has lead to an increase in cancer, heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.

State Programs
The majority of current state programs focus on promoting nutrition, physical activity, and weight reduction. Most programs combine a physical fitness component to increase activity with nutrition education to improve diet and facilitate weight loss.

Illinois

Illinois WISEWOMAN Program – Sponsored by the State Department of Public Health, participants engage in a 12-week nutrition and physical-activity curriculum. Women receive informational newsletters and telephone support throughout the program. Goals are to improve diet and cardiovascular-risk profiles while reducing the amount of sedentary behavior. This is an APHA Statistics to Solutions program example. www.idph.state.il.us/about/womenshealth/wise.htm

Virginia

Piedmont Health District: Partners for Healthy Lifestyles – Local African- American churches are involved in activities that address chronic obesity in three ways: weight reduction, increased physical activity, and lifestyle changes. The program is implemented in areas of Virginia with populations greater than 40 percent African-American, low socioeconomic status, multiple health disparities, and a lack of healthcare providers and services. Of the fives churches picked for the program, all showed improvements in patrons’ overall cardiovascular health and significant decrease in BMI. Source: ASTHO/NACCHO. For more information, contact the Piedmont Health District at 434-392-3984.

Praisercize – The Virginia State Health Department and Central Virginia Community Health Center coordinate this program to address chronic obesity among African Americans. A network of 35 churches incorporates gospel music with low-impact exercise routines. Participants focus on weight reduction, increased physical activity, and lifestyle changes (including nutrition education). To date, more than 1,400 people have participated and health improvement results are positive. Source: ASTHO/NACCHO. For more information, contact Henry Murdaugh at 804-786-3561.

New York

Physical Activity and Nutrition Steering Committee (PAN) – The committee focuses on five elements of a healthy lifestyle, including prenatal weight gain and breastfeeding, physical activity and TV viewing, fruits and vegetables, other dietary determinants, and obesity awareness and healthcare practices. Children are specifically being targeted especially those at high risk of obesity. The committee began a Child Health and Fitness Study, an intervention to improve nutrition and physical activity in childcare settings. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/state_programs/funded_states/new_york.htm

Starting Right Initiative, New York City – A program started by the Children’s Health Fund, the Starting Right Initiative focuses on increasing awareness of obesity to medically undeserving people in the South Bronx. Through screening, health education, intervention they seek to decrease minority child obesity in this region. In addition, they have created a fitness group which partners with the Police Athletic League to create physical activities opportunities for children. www.childrenshealthfund.org/whatwedo/startingrightinitiative.php

Maryland

The Nutrition and Physical Activity Program – This very successful program, funded by the CDC, established the Maryland’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition, which includes more than 12 community partners. The organization hosts a regional meeting to expand and strengthen partnerships and to scan communities for current nutrition and physical activity programs and initiatives. It also identifies surveillance systems that monitor the risks and prevalence of overweight and obese populations in the state. www.fha.state.md.us/cphs/cdp/npa/pdf/npaplan.pdf Also, for a report on the progress of this program, visit www.cdc.gov/Pcd/issues/2006/jan/05_0077.htm

Great obesity program database

Shaping America’s Youth (SAY) – Contains comprehensive information on programs and community efforts across the United States directed at increasing physical activity and improving nutrition for children. Partners include the American Obesity Association, American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American Diabetes Association. www.shapingamericasyouth.com

For more information, e-mail Eric Jacobson or call him at 302-831-1711.

photo on this page courtesy of the Administration on Aging