Media Release

For:  Immediate Release
Date:  June 17, 2003
Contact:  Toushoua Xiong, Acting Program Coordinator, 401-222-3059

RI Department of Health Awards Community Obesity Prevention Grants; 
Programs Designed to Prevent Obesity in Children and Adults

          Obesity is a national epidemic. During the past decade, Rhode Island experienced a dramatic rise in overweight and obesity.  A staggering 17% of Rhode Island adults are obese, up from 10% in 1991.  In addition, 14% of Rhode Island students, grades 9-12, are overweight. 

“Its pretty clear that the amount of food we eat and the amount of energy we expend in physical activity are seriously out of balance,” said Patricia A. Nolan, MD, MPH, Director, Rhode Island Department of Health (HEALTH). “Many people regard being overweight solely as an attractiveness issue.  In public health, however, we recognize that obesity contributes to 300,000 adult deaths each year, nationally.  If this trend continues, being overweight will soon rival tobacco use as the nation’s leading cause of preventable death and disease.” 

            As part of the state’s strategy to prevent obesity-related illnesses, HEALTH announced awards totaling $160,542 to five community-based agencies.  “We are excited to work with community partners to address this important health issue,” stated, Toushoua Xiong, Program Coordinator of HEALTH’s Obesity Prevention Program. 

Funded agencies include:

• South Providence Neighborhood Ministries ($25,000) to work with a coalition to develop neighborhood walking and mileage clubs using the Broad Street Path to Health. 
• The Rhode Island Alliance of Boys and Girls Clubs ($39,884) to implement the “BodyWorks” program in after-school and summer activities. “BodyWorks” is a nationally- recognized, comprehensive wellness program for youth ages 6-13. 
• Thundermist Health Associates Incorporated ($34,475) to expand the “Be F.I.T.” program in all Woonsocket schools. The “Be F.I.T.” program includes counseling, comprehensive nutrition and physical activity programs, a school co-sponsored walking club, and advocacy efforts that support positive health behaviors among students in grades K-12. 
• Rhode Island Hospital ($38,480) for collaboration among the Hasbro Children’s Unit Pediatric Primary Care Clinic, Memorial Hospital’s Family Medicine Clinic, and St. Joseph’s Hospital Pediatric Clinic to develop and implement an obesity curriculum for pediatric health care providers.
• Worksite Wellness Council of Rhode Island (WWCRI-$22,703) to help inform employers of the direct and indirect costs of obesity and communicate return-on-investment data for worksite obesity prevention and treatment strategies. WWCRI also will evaluate “Best Practices” in worksite overweight and obesity prevention and treatment efforts and disseminate the results to Rhode Island worksites.

          These awards are supported by the funds from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  HEALTH’s Obesity Prevention Program staff will support these newly funded agencies to develop the best possible programs and evaluate their effectiveness.