The Otho S. A. Sprague Memorial Institute has provided $500,000 to fund the first three years of a new consortium to combat childhood obesity in Chicago. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago's Children (CLOCC) is modeled on the Chicago Asthma Consortium that was launched created by Sprague almost a decade ago. CLOCC participants include experts from Chicago area medical centers and primary care practices, public and private agencies, and the school system.
"Childhood obesity is a growing epidemic, with almost 15 percent of American children and adolescents overweight. The problem is most severe for minority children," said CLOCC's medical director Katherine Kaufer Christoffel, attending physician at Children's Memorial Hospital. "Our focus must be on prevention. If we can begin to change attitudes and behaviors at an early age, then we can lead children to a healthier lifestyle."
CLOCC's work will encompass children and adolescents, with its main focus on preschoolers, aged three to five. CLOCC will emphasize prevention initiatives that cut across all levels of health, including individuals, families, and community culture, with particular attention on the community. For example, La Rabida Children's Hospital on the south side will be partnering with Children's Memorial and CLOCC to improve nutritional habits in high risk families via counseling in community based programs.
This summer CLOCC is planning to unveil a public education program to raise awareness of obesity prevention and to offer easy and upbeat ways to increase healthy exercise and healthy eating.
"We want Chicago to be a leader in the effort to prevent children from suffering the brunt of the obesity epidemic," said Dr. Christoffel. "We are grateful to the Sprague Institute for taking the initiative to fund this three year project."
For more information on CLOCC, contact Dr. Matt Longjohn, executive director of CLOCC, at (773) 327-9681, or email mlongjohn@childrensmemorial.org.
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