CHILDREN & WEIGHT

Aiken
Anderson
Barnwell
Berkeley
Fairfield
Laurens
Lexington
Marion
Orangeburg
Pickens
Richland
Saluda
Spartanburg
Union
Williamsburg
York

Children and Weight Summit

March 27, 2003

Local Coalition Report: Marion County

Facilitator: Lana Tietjen Recorder:

How aware are you of the problem of childhood overweight in your community? What evidence do you see in your work? Outside your work setting?

• Currently doing an assessment in the county schools
• Very aware
• Type II diabetes, school nurses seeing children weighing 270#
• Visual, seeing children, shopping malls, increase number of fast food
Establishments, don’t see children outside playing

What’s happening in our community that supports healthy eating among children? What needs to be changed to help children eat better?

• Extension Programs, DHEC programs – WIC, dieticians, adults and youth
• Our coalition work school food service
• Extension – families, children and community
• Convenience
• Schools – vending and choices
• Families eating together

What’s happening on our community that supports physical activity among children? What needs to be changed to help children be more physically active?

• Recreation dept
• Hospital Program – for children
• Schools – sports program
• Getting families involved
• Make more available
• Education of family, children and community
• Creating safe environments
• Safety – enforcing leash law

Are you or your organization currently working on the issue of childhood overweight? What is being done?
• Yes
• Coalition – doing community assessment
In May – start Project (?) Kids
• Working on more walking trails

What resources already exist in our community that can be used to help families eat better and be more active?

• Schools, Churches – offering education from there (using extensions, DHEC, school nurses, hospital)

• Coalition that exists (including pediatricians)

Would you be interested in participating in a community coalition to address this issue? List other individuals or organization who may be willing to participate.

• We already have one in place

Local Coalition Participants

Lana Tietjen – Clemson Ext. LTTJN@clemson.edu (843) 423-8285
Lori Creech, SCDHEC creechlr@dhec.sc.gov (843) 661-4728
Mary Sheahan Kraunin, MSW marysheahankrainin@earthlink.org (843) 629-5040
Lynn Hammond lhammond@sde.state.sc.us (803) 734-8076