Tuesday, September 28, 2010

For the first time in the history of the Cape Fear, more than 200 stakeholders will unite to tackle the growing childhood obesity epidemic in the area. Health educators, health care providers, government leaders, concerned parents and others will collaborate at the Childhood Obesity Summit at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 5 in the University of North Carolina Wilmington Warwick Center.

North Carolina ranks 11^th this year, up from 14^th in 2009, for the highest number of overweight children in the country. The 2007 New Hanover County Health Assessment identified roughly one in three children between 2-18 years old as overweight or at-risk for being overweight. Statistics for surrounding counties are also alarming.

The Childhood Obesity Summit will be the first effort of this size to encourage all stakeholders, including the numerous obesity initiatives that have been organized in the region in recent years, to literally sit at the table together, design strategies, make goals and cooperatively agree to create change. Registration is required for this free event, at which media can gain interviews with experts.

Childhood obesity can lead to significant health and welfare issues in adulthood. Obese children are at a higher risk for diabetes and other related health problems. The issue of obesity goes beyond only impacting children by increasing healthcare costs and creating numerous other challenges for the whole community.

At the summit, Sarah Armstrong, pediatrician and director of the Duke Children's Healthy Lifestyles Program will provide insight on the issues of obesity during her keynote address. Kateryna Kotlyarevska, pediatric endocrinologist at New Hanover Regional Medical Center, will describe regional pediatric services available to support childhood obesity prevention and discuss her work with children affected by childhood obesity-related endocrine diseases, including diabetes.

Breakout sessions will address the topics of early childhood intervention, empowering parents and caregivers, healthy foods in schools, access to healthy and affordable food and increasing physical activity.

The summit will be repeated as an annual event to measure progress and continue emphasis across the region. It is being sponsored by the Cape Fear Health Policy Council, Smart Start of New Hanover County, the Obesity Prevention Initiative at UNC Wilmington, the United Way, New Hanover Regional Medical Center, the Star-News, Southeastern North Carolina Food Systems Program, South East Area Health Education Center and New Hanover County Schools.

Registration is open to all stakeholders in the childhood obesity epidemic. Professional continuing education credits for the summit are available. For more information, to register and learn more about receive continuing education credits, visit http://www.aheconnect.com/registration/coastal/eventdetail.asp?EventID=31796.

Media Contact (Do Not Publish this Contact Info):
Joy Davis, UNCW Marketing and Communications, 910.632.3903 or davisjc@uncw.edu