Advisory Board Programming Comments

"As advisory board chairperson and practicing economist, I've been concerned for years about the growing prevalence of childhood obesity in this country and the large costs that it imposes on both individuals and society. However, until the formation of the National Childhood Obesity Foundation I saw little evidence that any organization was attempting to systematically solve this problem; now once the foundation receives sufficient funding we are poised to implement several innovative programs that target both children and their caregivers in truly innovative ways. Especially exciting are the targeted curricular innovations and the empowerment programs in the way that they speak to both young children and their caregivers rather than just by focusing on children. Candidly, I can't tell you how excited I am do begin the monumental work required to turn around this national epidemic and with your help we can begin this important journey sooner rather than later. Thanks in advance for your support."
Frederick J. Galloway, Ed.D., M.A.,
^® Advisory Board Chairperson
Associate Professor, School of Education, University of San Diego, San Diego, CA

"Overweight and obese children place significant health, social and economic costs on governments of all levels, communities, schools, families, and caregivers. The ^{® ®} Health Education Programs represent an innovative and comprehensive response to reaching a growing population of obese children and parents annually with a current, continuous, actionable health message centered on nutrition and physical activity. These programs will be scientific and ecologically grounded, and shall reach into the very communities and lives of those most affected by this growing epidemic across the country. I am excited about the prospect for ^® to make a real difference."
Douglas Levin,
Deputy Director and Chief Operating Officer, National Association of State Boards of Education, Washington, DC

"I am proud to support the work of ^®, through its planned health care programming that aims to assist children and their families conquer the problem of childhood obesity. ^®'s strategy for partnerships with schools, families and other professional organizations in order to change food habits and increase exercise will be an important part of the continuing war on obesity and overweight issues in childhood. The ^® approach shall involve the broadest coalition of individuals who care about children, and it is this format that will help lead to greater success as we as a society attempt to modify daily food habits and decreases in activity."
Lynne L. Levitsky, M.D.,
Chief, Pediatric Endocrine Unit, Massachusetts General Hospital, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

"I am very excited about the ^{® ®} Health Education programs. In our pediatric practice, I see first-hand the growing epidemic of obesity in children and how it affects the individual, the family and the community. Children and their families need the education, tools, and support to make the changes necessary to improve their health and their futures. I highly recommend the N.C.O.F. Health Education programming as an annual scientific and ecologically oriented approach to reduce the incidence of obesity in our nation."
Mona Griffis, RD, LDN,
Registered Dietitian, Pediatric Endocrinology, Duke Medical Center, Durham, NC

"One of the aspects of the ^{® ®} program that I appreciate the most is that it targets young children through their community. It doesn't wait until they're older when poor health habits have become entrenched and they are obese, but works to empower families to raise their children healthfully and prevent obesity. Prevention of obesity is the key to turning the tide on this epidemic. The ^{® ®} programs are also beneficial for the entire family and the communities through which they are effected as healthful living is good for everyone. I am excited to be able to work with the ^® to address the obesity epidemic on a national level.
Marcie Drury Brown, M.D., M.C.R .,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University Medical School, Winston-Salem, NC

"I firmly believe the totality of ^{® ®} programs and especially the ^SM Curriculum are an imaginative approach for touching the very lives of these obese children and parents with an annual current, comprehensive, continuous, and centered nutrition and physical activity health message. These ^® programs will reach into the very communities and lives of those most affected by this growing epidemic on a national scale."
Thomas Morley, M.Ed.,
Health & Fitness Teacher, Mesa Elementary School, Meza, AZ

"What I like most about the ^{® ®} programming approach is that it is empowering for children and teens. It doesn't use a "nutrition quiz" approach or a "don't eat this or that approach." Part of what it encourages is changing Mindless Eating -- changing the environment for our children to be less Mindless and more Mindful. This is where I think the key to reversing childhood obesity lies."
Brian Wansink, Ph.D.,
Director of the Cornell Food and Brand Lab, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY

"As a practicing psychologist in Massachusetts and throughout my years of work at and with the Massachusetts Rehabilitation Commission/Disability Determination Services, I have witnessed first-hand the devastating negative health consequences of childhood obesity on self-esteem and self-image. As a medical (psychological) consultant working as a reviewer of claims for disability under the Social Security Administration's Disability Program, I have gained a greater appreciation and understanding of the social consequences and stigmatization of youth who suffer from obesity and severe over weight issues. I very much applaud ^®'s mission and vision strategy, and future attempts through their multi-faceted two-phased ^® programming to address the epidemic of childhood obesity."
John Burke, Ph.D.,
Licensed Psychologist, Certified Health Provider Diplomate, American Board of Psychological Specialties, Medical Psychology and DisabilityEvaluation, Boston, MA

"I'm very excited about the potential ^{® ®} Health Education Programs will have on childhood and adolescent obesity. For children with genetic hypercholesterolemia and other metabolic risk factors, obesity can be devastating. Primary prevention for premature cardiovascular disease for children and adolescents with genetic dyslipidemias is eating a healthy diet and getting daily physical activity. Parents, teachers, and health care providers are in great need for more resources such as those proposed by ^® to help them in the struggle against childhood obesity."
Suzanne Kordesh, MPH, RD,
Pediatric Lipid Clinic Coordinator, Genetics Department, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland, CA

"As a Pediatric Endocrinologist, I am an active participant in the battle against childhood obesity. I see firsthand the struggles of obese patients and their families. I am excited to support the ^{® ®} Health Education Programs which target not only patients, but also their families and communities. The programs focus on both nutrition and physical activity which are the key elements needed to prevent childhood obesity. By targeting an audience as young as pre-K we will give children the knowledge and power to make healthy diet choices throughout their life. They will have the ability to teach their family, community and eventually their own children thus breaking the cycle of obesity."
Amie VanMorlan, M.D., FAAP,Assistant Professor of Child Health, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO

"I am excited by the prospects of the the ^®® Health Education Programs to receive adequate funding to initiate these much needed health programs. These programs, which are centered on proper nutrition and physical activity, have the promise of reaching children at risk for obesity on a national level. As a pediatric endocrinologist whose research interest lies in childhood obesity, I encounter chronic co-morbidities associated with obesity on a daily basis, including: diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, cancers, sleep apnea and others. The ^® national health education programming has the promise of effectively helping many children who are at risk for obesity."
Andrea M. Haqq, M.D., FAAP, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Endocrine Division, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

"The epidemic of pediatric obesity is one of the most significant public health issues affecting us today. Without an effective national response to this urgent problem, many of our youth will go on to develop serious health problems which will place additional burdens on our already stressed health care system. The planned programming strategy of ^® will help to curb the adverse impacts on children's health by raising awareness of this important issue and by providing effective tools to children and their families to promote healthier lifestyles. I'm very pleased to support the efforts of ^® to help reverse this growing health care crisis."
Alan Delamater, Ph.D. ,
Professor, Pediatrics and Psychology, University of Miami, Miami, FL

"I am truly excited about the potential that the ^{® ®} Health Education Programs offer our nation's children. I am in total agreement with the philosophy that it is essential to start nutritional education and implementation of healthy eating habits early in life. From my many years in the practice of pediatric gastroenterology , I have seen first-hand the devastating effects of obesity on individuals, families, and the community resulting in several chronic diseases associated with obesity namely diabetes, heart disease, hypertension, some cancers, and sleep apnea. Obesity is the cause of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis ("fatty liver", NASH) possibly leading to liver cirrhosis and the need for a liver transplant. Poor eating habits and obesity are the primary culprits of irritable bowel syndrome and reflux disease. In the pediatric population obesity is the route cause of many psychological issues. I highly recommend the ^® health education programming as an annual scientific and ecological oriented approach for reducing the incidence of obesity among our nation's children and adult populations."
Agnieszka Pluta M.D., Ph.D.,
Assistant Professor, Pediatrics and Pediatric Gastronterology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, D.C.

"I am looking forward to working with my ^® Advisory Board colleagues during the development and implementation phases of the ^{® ®} health education programming. From my many years of teaching grades 3-6 health and science classes, I firmly believe these planned ^® programs will enhance the quality and delivery of current health care knowledge to the very parents and children who need it most. ^®'s health care programming strategy is to reach into every community across the U.S. to help reduce this growing crisis. From my perspective this national approach espoused by ^® is exactly what we need to combat this major health epidemic."
Nancy DelPrato, M.Ed.,
4th Grade Health & Sceince Teacher, Cumberland Grammer School, Cumberland, RI

"The importance of the efforts of the ^{® ®} programs cannot be overstated. The growing problems related to childhood obesity are well documented and alarming. We have an obligation to the current and future generations of children to address these issues at a national level to stem this growing crisis. We see this problem every day in our nearly 2000 child care centers nationwide, and it will take a concerted effort by educators and health practitioners in partnership with families to promote healthy lifestyles beginning with our youngest children. I am proud to work with the ^® in concert with a broad base of individuals who are passionate about the welfare of children and thoughtful as to how best to promote long lasting behavioral changes."
Elanna S. Yalow, Ph.D., M.B.A.
President and Chief Operating Officer, KinderCare Learning Centers, Portland, OR

"Childhood obesity is a major risk factor for many of the "lifestyle" diseases, including diabetes, cardiovascular dysfunction and cancer. Overweight and obese individuals need the kinds of programs offered by ^® to provide a framework for behavioral change. As an exercise physiologist, I know the impact of an active lifestyle in reducing disease risk, even against a background of obesity and overweight. I am pleased to see that physical activity is a core element of the ^®'s intervention strategy. I am delighted to support the ^® initiatives in addressing this health epidemic."
Earl Noble; Ph.D.,
Professor, Department of Kinesiology, University of Western Ontario, London, Ontario, Canada

"^®'s ^SM and ^® Programs are exciting, and I am actually relieved to see an organization acting nationally, bringing together the best of outreach and research. The initiatives contained within ^® are focusing on the family and child in developmentally appropriate ways, supporting change instead of chastising when change does not happen. I am honored and delighted to be a part of the nationwide effort at improving the health of America's families."
Joseph A. Skelton, M.D.,
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC

"What I especially like about the ^® Programming is the targeting of BOTH kids and their gatekeepers. The gatekeepers are key players here and while the community, schools, and industry can play a role, it's important to reinforce the power of the gatekeepers, be they parents, extended family, or others. We cannot do it without them. What I also like are the multi-faceted and multi-level approaches that Phases 1 and 2 of the ^{® ®} Programming envision. The term "ecological approach" says it well -- this is about changing the entire environment that relates to how kids and their families, and the rest of us, eat and how we view food and activity in our lifestyles. Both phases stress that the time has come to gain control of obesity and for total health to be a priority at every age. The development of the ^SM Curriculum for families will be a monumental step forward in helping these gatekeepers and children better understand the importance of daily healthy nutrition and physical activity. The component of "self-image" is great, but what makes it better is that it's paired with "self-determination." It's self-determination that creates the action-oriented steps to produce positive change. I'm very excited about these programs and look forward to working with ^® in achieving its goals."
Keith-Thomas Ayoob, Ed.D., RD, FADA,
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY

"Over the past decade we have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of children being referred for obesity and/or obesity related illness to our pediatric endocrinology practice. If left unchecked this "epidemic" of childhood obesity will have profound and long standing effects on our nation's health and economy. Organizations such as the ^® play a critical role in our efforts to combat this epidemic. ^®'s ^® programs, such as the ^SM education initiatives are an innovative and collaborative approach to address the myriad issues related to childhood obesity. I am honored to have the opportunity to participate in the development of ^® programs and initiatives."
Ram K. Menon, M.D.,
Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Division of Endocrinology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI

"I am pleased to be a part of ^® professional Advisory Board (Health Care Committee) and I am looking forward to being apart of the intended ^SM Curriculum development team which will be the cornerstone of the ^® Health Education Programming. For the past fifteen years The Unit for Nutrition Research (UNR) in Iceland has conducted studies on children's diet and health providing bases for dietary recommendation and actions aiming at improving public health. The ^® and UNR share the same interest in fighting the international prevalence of obesity. The intended ^® Phase One & Two Programming presents an innovative approach for addressing the obesity epidemic"
Inga Thorsdottir Professor,
Director of UNR, University of Iceland & Landspitali University Hospital