Fighting childhood obesity in greater Trenton

Jul 03, 2010

By: Andria Carter

By L.A. PARKER
Staff Writer
TRENTON — Childhood obesity remains a serious medical condition that is easy to recognize and predict, but prevention provides a significant challenge as kids beef up on fast food, soda pop and an assortment of high-calorie items that bulge waistlines.
According to a study conducted by Rutgers’ Center for State Health Policy, Trenton children rank as the state’s fattest with about half labeled overweight, obese or very obese.
Trenton ranked first for kids ages 3-19 with a belly-busting 47.3 percent, ahead of New Brunswick (46.4), Newark (44.2), Vineland (43.6) and Camden (39.8).
Overweight children are more likely to develop other physical health issues including type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and high cholesterol.
While physical complications connected to obesity are frequently evident, more health studies underscore emotional issues faced by overweight children including depression, stress and bullying.
A study presented to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists concluded that obese and overweight teen girls have sex far earlier than their fit counterparts. These weight-challenged girls are three times more likely to have had sex before the age of 13 and are 30 percent more likely to have more than three partners.
The Trentonian’s crowdsourcing initiative — reaching out to the community to contribute insight and information about Trenton’s teen obesity problem — discovered numerous health initiatives and weight wars being waged by area health agencies and community entrepreneurs and activists.
“Parents are very concerned about safety. Without access to outdoor activities, it’s hard to burn off those excess calories.”
Morris’ nationally recognized nonprofit organization provides health care support for children ages 0-3 and their families.
Children’s Futures received a $50,000 grant from the Horizon Foundation of New Jersey to fight obesity in Trenton.
Morris said the funding will provide obesity prevention training and support to numerous area primary care physicians.
Morris noted that among the innovative approaches CF is instituting to tackle childhood obesity is the creation in Trenton of the medical home, a health care model in which a clinician partners with the patient and the patient’s family to address medical and non-medical needs.
Through this partnership, the clinician can help the patient and family access and coordinate specialty care, educational services, out-of-home care family support, and other services that are important to overall health.
Floyd Morris added: “Combined with the extensive obesity prevention and treatment training that we provide to area physicians, the introduction of the medical home approach is a huge step forward maintaining and improving the health of Trenton’s children.”
In Willingboro, Sherrod Morris fights obesity with a nutrition-conscious cartoon gopher character named “GoGo.”
While Morris failed to win a Sesame Street contest for his promotion of healthy eating by youngsters, his animated short offers introductions to quality fruits and vegetables.
Morris, 34, expects to have his website constructed shortly, which he said will allow children, parents and teachers to connect with GoGo’s positive lifestyle.
“GoGo will introduce a fruit or vegetable each week in a two-minute segment. Hopefully, I can eventually connect with a corporate sponsor or someone else who might be interested in supporting my cause for fighting obesity in children,” Sherrod Morris explained.
In one episode, GoGo discusses the importance of water in a person’s diet.

Watch more cool animation and creative cartoons at Aniboom“I don’t know if we will ever see the day when carrots win out over a candy bar or when broccoli sprouts are in vending machines but that would not be a bad thing,” Sherrod Morris said.
Check out GoGo in a video embedded in this story at Trentonian.com.
Princeton’s Gail Olivia Everett understands an obesity epidemic faced by local children, but she takes a different approach while pushing healthy eating and exercise.
“We need to get parents active and eating well so they can pass these activities on to their children. Olivia’s Wellness Connection is my ministry and I intend to get parents and kids up and moving,” said Everett, a Princeton University security administrator who writes a health blog at www.Princetonlivingwell.com.
“My mother died of a stroke when I was just 16. That’s when wellness became a big part of my life. I am a certified trainer and have certification as a pilates instructor. Bottom line, though, I want to teach healthy lifestyles to kids. I want to put Olivia’s Wellness Connection on the map and want it to be around long after I’m gone.”
Health and weight loss are both business and personal for Marilyn Ganges (marilynganges.isagenix.com), who started a business selling cleansing and fat-burning products that have helped her lose weight.
“I lost 20 pounds my first month. I know that there are so many programs out there and people are confused, but I truly believe this is the best one for most people,” Ganges said.
“Kids love this stuff. You can add fruits like strawberries, bananas or blueberries to make great tasting shakes. Children won’t even know that they are eating healthy.”

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