Project Description:
Nearly one-third of the nations youth are overweight or obese, which impacts long-term health and places children on a trajectory to become obese adults. In addition, one third of all children born in 2000 are expected to develop diabetes during their lifetime. Along
with chronic, negative health effects, childhood obesity imposes substantial economic costs. Direct medical costs associated with excess weight during childhood are estimated at $3 billion per year nationally. If childhood obesity rates continue to rise, todays
generation of children could be the first in our nations history to live shorter, less healthy lives than their parents.
In LAC alone in 2009, the percentage of obese 3 and 4 year olds participating in the Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC) was 21% and 22%, respectively. Furthermore, marked socioeconomic disparities exist across LAC that impact the health
and weight status of youth. In 2007, obesity rates among school-aged children ranged from a low of 4% in the affluent City of Manhattan Beach to a high of 34% in the predominantly low-income City of Bell Gardens, located less than 20 miles away.
The overall goal of ECOPI is to reduce the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children ages 0-5 in LAC. To achieve this goal, the CHLAkids RFP seeks to identify organizations with the capacity to implement an intensive community-based public education and skills-building campaign.
Childrens Hospital Los Angeles was awarded a grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to prevent childhood obesity from 2014-2017. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health is working with First 5 LA to bring together a broad range of partners to implement community-based public education, skills-building and environmental changes that promote physical activity and healthy eating, among LA County children 0-5 years of age and their families.
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Racial or Ethnic Minorities, Disadvantaged Circumstances, Limited English, Geographic Areas, Urban
