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1 Introduction
Pages 13-24

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From page 13...
... To that end, the IOM convened a committee charged with examining the range of childhood obesity prevention efforts that have been considered or implemented by local governments, with a focus on identifying promising practices that could serve as the basis for a set of recommendations for dissemination to local government officials and entities. The audience for the report was to include mayors; county, city, or township commissioners or other officials; local health departments; local boards of health; city and transportation planners; and other relevant local commissions and public entities.
From page 14...
... . A Tool for Local Governments Much has been written about the epidemic of childhood obesity and strategies for reversing current trends.
From page 15...
... . Those recommendations call for governmental leadership, at all levels, on better measurement of childhood obesity; consideration of the unique characteris 1-1 tics and contexts of people in communities when obesity prevention initiatives are being developed; evaluation of programs to see what works; and dissemination of information about what does and does not work.
From page 16...
... and the extent to which children engage in physical activity, which can depend on the accessibil ity and maintenance of neighborhood playgrounds. By focusing on such broader environmental factors as well as on what happens during the school day, local governments are likely to increase their chances of success in preventing childhood obesity.
From page 17...
... At a future date, communities may develop a more comprehensive childhood obesity prevention plan that involves every department and program within local government, businesses, community organizations, schools, families, and individuals. A multisectoral plan can include clear roles, responsibilities, and policies that make the healthy choices the easy choices by giving communities, schools, businesses, and families the tools they need to make it easier to follow national recommendations for healthy eating and physical activity.
From page 18...
... 3.  Local government efforts are critical in childhood obesity prevention. Local governments have a substantial influence in shaping policies and practices that influence the environments where children live, play, and learn and thereby affect their health.
From page 19...
... In the same way, local governments can promote children's health by taking action to prevent childhood obesity. 4.  Eliminating health disparities and achieving health equity should be priorities in any childhood obesity prevention effort.
From page 20...
... How the Action Steps Were Selected Local governments are looking for the most effective actions they can take to prevent childhood obesity in their communities. As noted above, while the evi dence base for local government actions is growing, limitations of current research should not discourage action.
From page 21...
... In addition, actions had to have been implemented by local governments or recommended by knowledgeable sources as actions for local governments. Finally, the recommended actions had to be likely to make positive contributions to the achievement of healthy eating and/or optimal physical activity based on research evidence or, where that was lacking or limited, have a logical connection with the achievement of healthier eating or increased physical activity.
From page 22...
... After surveying existing efforts, local governments will need to decide how to take the first step. While many actions are recommended in this report, there are also many simple first steps that local government officials can take to get started on preventing childhood obesity in their communities.
From page 23...
...   2.  ave lunch with your health director to discuss childhood obesity prevention.
From page 24...
... . 24 Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity


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