Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, second from left, took part in the anniversary celebration for the Nashville Collaborative. Also on hand were, from left, local chef David Owens, VU Athletics chef Majid “Magic” Noori, and Shari Barkin, M.D. (photo by Steve Green)
Hip Hop to Health
A 12-year-old participant in the Nashville Collaborative's after school program has found fun in fitness to a funky beat. He showed his new moves at the recent celebration.
Obesity-fighting effort celebrates anniversary
Vanderbilt is at the heart of the battle against obesity, and the fight is just beginning.
For the past three years, the Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt has partnered with the Metro Nashville Parks and Recreation Department in a community-based effort against obesity, dubbed the Nashville Collaborative.
The group designs and tests innovative programs, using evidence-based practices, with the goal of helping children be active, maintain a healthy weight and avoid chronic health diseases.
Tennessee ranks second in the nation for obesity among adults and sixth for childhood obesity.
The Collaborative celebrated its third anniversary last week, showcasing its accomplishments, including seven grants, 10 submitted scientific papers, national presentations and an international award. The group has created afterschool programming and held cooking classes and health fairs.
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean, second from left, took part in the anniversary celebration for the Nashville Collaborative. Also on hand were, from left, local chef David Owens, VU Athletics chef Majid “Magic” Noori, and Shari Barkin, M.D. (photo by Steve Green)
“This issue of obesity is one that is pervasive,” said Shari Barkin, M.D., director of Pediatric Obesity Research, Diabetes Research and Training Center at Vanderbilt.
“It starts young. Some of our programs begin with pregnant women, and if we can change things in-utero and in early childhood, the evidence shows that we can truly change the trajectory for childhood health and health into adulthood.”
Nashville Mayor Karl Dean stressed that change takes time and must begin in the community.
“We have made healthy living a priority for the city,” said Dean. “It’s the right thing to do for our citizens whether they’re adults or whether they’re children, but it’s particularly the right thing to do for children.”
The Collaborative’s eight programs are showing improvements. The Coleman Community Center’s afterschool program has impacted families’ lives and increased activity among the more than 100 children participating. The cost-effective program could serve as a model for afterschool programs across Nashville.
Georgia Caldwell, who has four children, sees a difference in her sons’ activity levels, and likes that they have a safe place to go after school.
“Here I know they are active,” said Caldwell. “There is no sitting around. They are busy. They are not off in a corner sitting by themselves. The staff is absolutely outstanding.”
The Collaborative is also one year into a seven-year, $12 million grant-funded program, Growing Right Onto Wellness (GROW), which will study how a healthy eating, active living intervention affects childhood body mass index (BMI). It will be tested at East Park Community Center, as well as Coleman, and will involve more than 600 parent-child dyads.
For more information about the Collaborative and its initiative, visit www.childrenshospital.vanderbilt.org/nashvillecollaborative.