OBESITY COMMITTEE
Committee Meeting Minutes
Committee Reports/ Publications
Obesity Resources/ Research
The AzAAP Obesity Committee is made up of approximately 20 chapter members from diverse settings and different geographic regions of the state, and we invite the input from expert guests (representatives from the Arizona Department of Health Services, ASU, etc.)
Some of the group’s accomplishments include:
- Created and distributed the “5-2-1-0 AZ Way To Go!” Obesity Prevention toolbox for clinicians and school nurses – the group has secured funding to measure the usefulness of the toolbox and to obtain feedback to improve its contents.
- Produced a position paper to describe the scope of the childhood obesity problem, best practices, Arizona efforts, gaps and proposed actions.
- Initiated a web-based, interactive mapping project of Maricopa County resources.
- Made presentations to the AHCCCS health plans about accurate obesity assessment and treatment guidelines. As a result of the presentations, AHCCCS agreed to standardize the way the health plans would collect BMI data.
- Surveyed commercial and AHCCCS health plans about obesity to assess the extent of coverage for clinician services. This data will be utilized in advocating for appropriate payment in the AzAAP Pediatric Council’s discussions with the medical directors of AHCCCS and major private health insurance plans.
- Identified recommendations for revisions of childcare rules related to fruit juice in childcare centers (to be submitted after the rulemaking moratorium is lifted).
- Initiated discussions with school nurses and administrators to discuss future collaboration and how pediatric healthcare providers can assist schools in their good nutrition and physical activity efforts.
- Made presentations to parents, residents, and community organization and state agency representatives working to eliminate the childhood obesity epidemic.
In late January, the AzAAP Obesity Committee gathered for strategic planning. The group’s future activities will focus around the following priorities:
- Assessing and summarizing available data and identifying data gaps/needs
- Strategic approach for further educational opportunities
- Media opportunities to promote healthy choices
- Collaboration with health plans to promote best practices for policy and reimbursement
- Policy/legislation to ensure optimum standards for nutrition and physical activity
For more information contact:
Committee Chair: Rene Bartos, MD, MPH, FAAP (rene7@cox.net)
AzAAP Staff: rebecca.nevedale@azaap.org
Page last updated February, 2010
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