Addendum to Fifth Social Equity Leadership Conference Proceedings

Results from Health Disparities Breakout Groups
Friday, February 3, 2006

Obesity/Diabetes Breakout Group Results: 
Maryann Troanovitch, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and Wayne Houston, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Facilitators, Jerry England, UNO MPA Student, Recorder

• The group looked at ways to address income disparity among individuals with obesity and/or diabetes.  They agreed that the traditional methods need to be assessed.
• Not enough people from the Omaha community are recognizing the need for action.  It isn’t always about money.  There is also a need for more training on actions that can be taken and on strategic planning for sustainability.
• It’s hard to sustain programs with soft funding.
• An elementary school in the Omaha area has an obesity training program for adults.  The program is run by a military volunteer from Offutt Air Force Base as part of that individual’s community service.  Perhaps others who want to volunteer could be encouraged to do something similar.
• Omaha has a community outreach program that is working to put exercise back into the schools
• Children can influence their families about nutrition and exercise if they have the training and knowledge.
• Programs should be tailored to communities and ethnic groups.  Cookie cutter approaches are not likely to be as successful.
• Data sources:  disease registries across the nation that show what groups are at risk; a study of genetics done in Iceland
• In Omaha there is a need for collaboration with communities and community agencies to develop maps of risk areas.  Such collaboration requires time to build rapport and trust between agencies and communities.
• The food choices in most schools today are not healthy, but they generate a lot of money for the schools.  Schools are beginning to change the choices they provide and should be supported in so doing.  Schools also have to be aware that healthy choices that are traditional for different ethnic groups should be part of their decision-making process when they make changes.