Edwin Fonner,
Jr., DrPH
The intent is to conduct a pilot and collaboration between an academic medical center, community health agencies, and an African American coalition of neighborhood associations, businesses, and residents. Screening, prevention, and effective management of obesity and diabetes is the focus. Children and youth are the target populations. A predominantly African American community of 20,000 residents located in northeast Kansas City KS is the setting. Community-based mentors and residents will facilitate communications among participants and providers.
Our objective is to develop and test a community-based method for screening, preventing, and treating obesity and diabetes in children. Specifically, we want to close gaps in the burden of obesity and diabetes in the northeast community. The first objective is to engage the community, providers, and researchers in a collaboration focused on weight management and prediabetes screening. The second objective is to build a base of local mentors, conduct health fairs, identify, and work with the population-at-risk. The third objective is to facilitate the partnership in a repeatable strategy for addressing health status and access disparities. We will focus on delivery of a screening program, an education campaign, and a weight management effort.
The weight management program model is provided by Dr. Pierson. Her Fit Kids-Fit Families, Inc. weight loss program involves goal setting, enlistment in a support group, diet and nutrition counseling, and physical activity. This is medically managed weight loss treatment with intensive lifestyle education and personalized attention that will be supported by the block contact network. Resources available with this model include Health Management Resources’ Decision-Free Diet and the University of California’s Shapedown program. Other effective community-based nutrition programs will be investigated during the funding period. [Back to Main Page]