Can Faith-Based Communities Influence Childhood Obesity ...

I received this article a few days ago by author, Michael Minor, entitled, Faith-Based Advocacy to End Childhood Obesity: Using Evidence-Based?Information?(PDF) in the February 2012 issue of Childhood Obesity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention?(CDC), childhood obesity has tripled in the past 30 years. This author?s idea is largely untested, but with a consistent rise in childhood obesity, maybe it?s time we ask for help in unconventional ways.

For author Michael Minor, the idea to incorporate health education in religious-based communities started back in 1997 when he and another pastor collaborated on an idea to ?foster the Kingdom of Christ on earth and to train young people.? This motto led to incorporating health and?wellness and encouraging church members to host annual health fairs. Annual health fairs eventually turned into a more organized way to incorporate health and wellness into everyday ministry of the church.

After years of working out logistics and incorporating leadership training for the health advocates, in 2007, childhood obesity was given special attention. Minor and his committee believe, ?If the church did better, then the family would do better. If the family did better, then the children would do better.? This idea was called the Mississippi Model and in time began to promote not only healthy eating, but walking groups, community gardens?and other forms of physical activity.

In 2010, the Mississippi Model was presented at the National Baptist Convention, USA Incorporated (NBCUSA) churches and received the ?green?light? to proceed forward under a new name. The National Baptist Congress?Health Outreach and Prevention Education Health Initiative (H.O.P.E) had a goal to make the NBCUSA the healthiest denomination in the US over the next 10 years.

While research is ?still being conducted via qualitative and quantitative research methods, I don?t think it?s too early to ask the question, should faith-based communities make health and wellness a?part of their ministry? If they do, what impact do you think it would or could have on the health status of our children?

Source: http://carlsbad.patch.com/articles/can-faith-based-communities-influence-childhood-obesity

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