CHILDREN’S HEALTH CARE
Adolescent Obesity: A Local Solution Charles J. Wibbelsman, MD
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hose of us in adolescent throughout the city. This innovative to address the nutrition and fitness crisis medicine are well aware of collaboration aims to teach good eating among young people,” says Virginia Witt, the epidemic of obesity habits and the importance of fitness to kids executive director of the San Francisco among children and adolescents. National between the ages of 11 and 15 who are at Beacon Initiative. “That was the catalyst statistics on childhood obesity are certainly risk for being overweight. that brought us all together.” alarming. Sixteen percent of Beacon Initiative centers are American children—or one in six located at elementary, middle and kids—are seriously overweight. And high schools throughout the city obesity leads to a host of other health including Chinatown, the Sunset, issues, including diabetes and sleep Visitacion Valley, the Excelsior, the apnea. Even more serious, though, Richmond, and Bayview Hunters studies show that overweight kids Point. The centers serve thousands of tend to become overweight adults, children and teens primarily from lowwho are at risk for heart disease and income neighborhoods. other life-threatening conditions. “Because the Beacon Centers We are seeing type II diabetes in already serve an existing population, children now when 20 years ago we this is a great way to reach kids whom only saw it in adults. we wouldn’t necessarily reach any The explanation for this change other way,” said Witt. “That’s why this is complex and involves many is a positive ongoing effort. It’s not a Teenage participants of the Beacon Initiative get lifestyle factors. To change this one-shot deal.” The Gateway to in shape during an after school program. pattern, we need to educate kids Fitness program is available at seven about diet and nutrition. We need centers to all kids who meet the The program is a partnership between criteria of being in the 85th to 95th to get them enthusiastic about being more active. And if there is going to be a change, the Beacon Initiative, which runs after- percentile for weight. Physicians at Kaiser now is the time to do it. It’s much easier to school programs at San Francisco public Permanente can also refer patients to the get an overweight 15-year-old to make schools, and Kaiser Permanente, which Gateway to Fitness program. lifestyle changes than it is to change adult provided health expertise in devising the The six- to eight-week program offers behavior. At Kaiser Permanente we are components of the program. Additional fun opportunities for physical fitness such looking for new programs and solutions partners were Team Up for Youth, a as kickboxing, karate, yoga, tae kwan do, because we need lots of options to reach nonprofit that supports after-school sports, and hip-hop dance in addition to traditional these kids. We have a chance to help them and the California Endowment, which sports and exercise. As school budgets have provided funding for planning and gotten tighter, physical education has been change their whole lives. One such program is the Gateway to coordination. cut back, giving kids fewer opportunities to “The key issue here is the urgent need Fitness program, which launches this fall
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