1 Beyond Nutrition Counseling: Reframing the Battle Against Obesity Dianna Colson, MS,CN Nutrition Services Branch Department for Public Health Frankfort, Kentucky

2 OJBECTIVES **Identify the purpose of the National FIT WIC Projects. **Identify the purpose of the Kentucky FIT WIC Project. **Name three barriers to effective nutrition counseling for overweight children. **Name two ideas/solutions to improve nutrition counseling for overweight children.

3 National FIT WIC Projects WIC services over 5.6 million infants and children annually Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) of USDA appropriated 1.8 million dollars in 1999 to fund cooperative agreements between five State WIC agencies and FNS to develop new, innovative strategies to prevent overweight in children, targeting WIC populations

4 States receiving funding were: ** California (lead agency) Multifaceted community based approach to overweight prevention ** Inter Tribal Council of Arizona (ITCA) Clinical based approach to overweight prevention in American Indian Children ** Kentucky Video developed: Beyond Nutrition Counseling: Reframing the Battle Against Obesity

5 ** Vermont FIT WIC Activity Kit: Tools for overcoming barriers to physical activity- **Virginia Anticipatory guidance model for fitness and nutrition

6 FIT WIC – KENTUCKY Research Team Members Leigh Ann Chamberlin, RD Dianna Colson, MS,CN Fran Hawkins, RD Anjali Jain, MD Scott Powers, PhD Susan Sherman, PhD Robert Whitaker, MD, MPH

7 FIT WIC KENTUCKY - GOAL To provide an intervention aimed at changing the attitude and perceptions of health professionals related to overweight in two to five year old children through a collaborative effort with Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center and the Kentucky WIC Program.

8 1. Team members conducted individual interviews and focus groups with mothers representing three distinct demographic groups in Ky. Cumberland Valley District Health Dept. Lexington-Fayette County Health Dept. FIVCO District Health Department Louisville Metro Health Department Children and Youth Project – Louisville Marshall County Health Department Focus group also with health professionals Approach

9 Video Development Based on these assessment activities, “key informants” were recruited to participate in video interviews. Video Action Fund, a not for profit production company in Washington,DC was hired to develop the video.

10 “Beyond Nutrition Counseling: Reframing the Battle Against Obesity” addresses these needs by informing the audience about: The daily life struggles that WIC families face as they try to parent children and implement health diet and activity patterns

11 The current “state” of parent skills among WIC parents The “necessity” of improving general parenting skills in order for nutritional education/counseling for obesity prevention to be effective.

12 The video is designed to be used for health professionals and features a “day in the life” of three families who are on the WIC program in Kentucky. Dr. Robert Whitaker was with each family through the filming. The video is also designed to be followed with a facilitated discussion with the audience to discuss barriers and solutions to effective counseling. A Discussion Guide and Video Script is included with the video.

13 Each county health department has a copy of the video and related materials. Seven journal articles have been published as a result of this project in Pediatrics, and the Journal of the American Dietetic Association Tellie Award

14 Please contact Dianna Colson at or phone (270) or the Kentucky WIC Program at (502)