Federal Grant Helps Clark County Fight Obesity, Diabetes, and Asthma

By Barbe West

Community Choices 2010, in Clark County, Washington, has been awarded a $5.9 million, five-year grant to combat obesity, diabetes, and asthma. This grant, one of a handful distributed nationwide, targets a health problem that some experts say is almost as dangerous and costly as smoking. The grant is funded under the Department of Health and Human Services new “STEPS to a Healthier US program,” which aims to help Americans live longer, better, and healthier lives. Clark County is one of 23 communities across the United States to receive this grant. "This is wonderful news for Clark County," says Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard. "This gives us the opportunity to come together and address a major health issue in our community."

Clark County has seen the percentage of obese adults jump from 19% in 1999 to 25% in 2002. This increase is even more dramatic in the adult female population where there has been a 10% increase in this same three-year period. In the last 20 years, the percent of children (6 to 11 years of age) who are overweight has doubled, rising from around 7% in 1976-1980 to almost 15% in 1999-2000. In 2002, 26% of Clark County 8th grade students who took the Health Youth Survey reported being overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

In addition to the increasing rates of obesity, less than 42% of Clark County adults meet the Center for Disease Control’s recommendation for participation in moderate physical activity for at least 30 minutes five or more days of the week.

Community Choices 2010 is a community-based non-profit organization that works for a healthier community through collaboration with organizations across Clark County. The leadership team in Clark County will expand its collaboration efforts by partnering with the other 22 communities in the United States that also received this grant.

Locally in Clark County, Community Choices 2010 has convened a group of community partners identified as the Fit Clark County Community Consortium that includes schools, city and county government, the health department, businesses, health systems, healthcare providers, the regional library, restaurants, the faith-based community, citizens, and multiple other community-based organizations. This group will begin to identify potential community initiatives that have a positive impact on the grant goals which are:
• To reduce and prevent obesity
• To increase physical activity
• To prevent diabetes among the
population with pre-diabetes
• To reduce complications of diabetes
• To reduce complications of asthma

The partners involved in this community-wide effort are aware that genetic, social, and environmental factors contribute to obesity. The focus in Clark County is to address the social and environmental influences that are believed to play a major role in contributing to the community’s obesity problem. Specifically recent trends that have likely affected weight levels include:
• Decreased physical activity in daily lives
• Community designs that may not
support physical activity
• Increased use of commercial food
products by individuals
• Larger food portions
• Unemployment and socioeconomic
status
• Access to prevention services and
health care

The partners involved in this effort recognize that meaningful change takes time and a strong commitment to stay engaged in this massive community-wide effort. Because of its history of collaboration on improving other community health issues, the consortium is confident that this multiyear effort will also produce positive results and once again improve the overall health of the people of Clark County.

Barbe West, Executive Director of Community Choices 2010, has over 30 years experience in healthcare. Following a 28-year career with Kaiser Permanente, she has chosen to focus on preventive approaches to healthcare. For more information call: 360-567-1087; or email her at:
barbew@communitychoices2010.com.