Healthy Weight Management

Why tackle childhood obesity? Because, frankly, we can’t afford not to.

  • In the 2012-2013 school year, ~160k or 34% of Dallas County children were obese, and 14% were at risk of becoming obese. Only 52% were considered to have a healthy BMI.
  • Obesity already costs Texas businesses more than $3 billion per year. If the problem goes unaddressed, by 2025 that cost will climb to nearly $16 billion.
  • The American Obesity Society lists Dallas as one of the “Top 10 Overweight Cities” in the U.S.
  • Based on the current number of obese children, the number of obese adults is expected to triple the state’s adult obesity rate by 2040.
The Alliance’s long-term goal with this initiative is to prevent and reduce childhood obesity in North Texas, as measured by BMI.

 


Many factors affect weight management in children

 

 


As the Healthy Weight Management Initiative, we strive:

 

  1. To Place the Child At the Center. We are accountable to the children of our community in all we say and do.
  2. To Address Systems Surrounding the Child. We believe that a child’s health outcomes are influenced by people, organizations, and processes beyond the child’s control.
  3. To Collaborate in New Ways. We can do more by coordinating our efforts and resources with one another than we can accomplish alone.
  4. To Recognize Food Insecurity. We acknowledge the full spectrum of social and economic factors that relate to obesity, including hunger and food insecurity.
  5. To Honor Diversity. We develop inclusive solutions that honor the diversity of the people in our community, free of judgment and with respect for culture, language, and belief.
  6. To Be a Neutral Convener. We are a neutral meeting ground to hear and integrate different perspectives, respecting individual and organizational expertise.
  7. To Build on Local Success. We believe there is great potential in aligning and maximizing local existing efforts to fight childhood obesity.
  8. To Commit to the Long-Term. We know that tackling obesity to create a healthier generation will require attention, time, and funds for years to come.
  9. To Be a Learning Collaborative. We use data and evidence to make decisions and measure the effectiveness of our efforts in the community.