I love to see people take action on their passion – whether it’s sports, pirates, writing, reading, motivating, movie making, fitness, family, or the fight against childhood obesity. The last item isn’t on my top 10 passion list, but I did recently become involved – as an advisor - to a group of talented medical professionals based at Nemours in Delaware, who are passionate about finding an antidote to the ever-growing spread of childhood obesity.
Google “childhood obesity” and you will see 2,880,000 entries! There is a ton of literature and too many talking heads sharing their thoughts about the need for medical intervention for the youth of America. But what are we doing about it?
Well, now someone is walking the talk.
The people at Nemours call their pilot program “PlayBall.” It will be launched in September at eight Nemours pediatric practices, incorporating 16 doctors and 2000 kids – starting at the age of four months. Obviously, they believe it’s never too young too get started. I agree. (I also believe that it’s never too late to get started either - but that’s a different subject.)
PlayBall is designed to promote increased physical activity in infants and young children through educating parents and distributing age-appropriate balls during their child’s primary care visits. At every well child visit to the pediatrician’s office, the parent will receive an age-appropriate ball and a related pamphlet describing fun PlayBall ideas that encourage parent interaction and child development.
The Nemours team – headed by the program’s founders Dr. Jay Greenspan, Dr. George Datto, and exercise physiologist Lauren Falini - will be collecting data on a periodic basis to gauge the physicians’ behavior – delivering the message, parent behavior – receptiveness of the message, and on the children behavior – effect on obesity prevention.
As a physical therapist and athletic trainer I know the importance of exercise and physical activity on the human body. And now I’m excited to see a group of hard-working, caring individuals take action on their passion and attempt to show the world that physical activity – even if it is just playing with balls - might be just what the doctor needs to order.
This entry was posted
on Monday, July 21st, 2008 at 7:49 am by Pat Croce
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July 21st, 2008 at 10:44 am
Pat-
I will be the one to beat childhood obesity in this country. I have a business launching this Spring that will undoubtedly have a positive affect in the way that children view their lives and their health.
Once we cach momentum you can bet that I will do all I can to get you involved!
Take care,
Bryn Davis
July 21st, 2008 at 12:21 pm
I love your passion Bryn!!
July 25th, 2008 at 8:41 am
Sounds like an excellent idea. We have made it far to easy to be out of shape in the country and with childhood obesity rising think of the future implications to our health care system. Time to stop it now. I commend their effort.