Press Conference, Meeting Explore Obesity Epidemic, Showcase New Book

Newswise — Sens. Edward Kennedy, Tom Harkin, and Bill Frist — as well as Dr. David Satcher, president of Morehouse School of Medicine and former U.S. Surgeon General — have agreed to give remarks during a March 8 community meeting co-hosted by the National Academies Press and National Black Church Initiative to address the issue of the childhood obesity epidemic.

The community meeting will take place at 11:30 a.m. at Mount Gilead Baptist Church at 1625 13th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.

Other meeting participants include Dr. Susan Okie, author of the new book Fed Up! Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity; a representative from the National PTA; Dr. Lalita Kaul, a professor of nutritional science at Howard University; Maltilde Palmer, a health educator from Children's National Medical Center; and Rev. Leroy Gilbert, pastor of Mount Gilead Baptist Church. A question-and-answer session will follow.

The community meeting will be preceded by a 10 a.m. press conference featuring Dr. Okie; Rev. Anthony Evans, president of NBCI; and Rev. Mark McCleary, president of NBCI's Ministers Alliance, will address the media.

During the press conference, Revs. Evans and McCleary will endorse what they call "a new weapon" in the fight against childhood obesity: Dr. Okie's book Fed Up! Winning the War Against Childhood Obesity. Okie is a Harvard-trained family physician and contributing editor to the New England Journal of Medicine. The book is published by the National Academies Press general interest imprint, the Joseph Henry Press.

"At a time when so many people are just talking about how to stop the childhood obesity crisis in America, Dr. Susan Okie and the National Academies are doing something about it," says Evans. "NBCI is proud to join forces with them in safeguarding the well being of America's children."

Fed Up! uses interviews with scholars, researchers, children, and parents; in-depth case studies; and information from the Institute of Medicine's groundbreaking report Preventing Childhood Obesity: Health in the Balance to paint a chilling portrait of this deadly epidemic and offer substantive ways to combat it. Topics covered include the role of genetics in obesity, the complicated relationship between children's weight and body image, how to successfully foster healthy eating habits, and the importance of regular physical activity.

"Our nation and our world are in crisis," Dr. Okie says. "But knowledge is power, and it's time to arm ourselves in the battle to win the war on obesity. I hope my book will provide some of the necessary strategy."

Written as an easily understood guide for parents, educators, and community activists, Fed Up! examines both the medical and social issues underlying this epidemic. And NBCI hopes that more community activists will recognize how useful Fed Up! will be in the fight against childhood obesity.

"As Dr. Okie points out in her book, 36 percent of African-American children are overweight, compared to 30 percent of white children," says Evans. "This makes it imperative that the black community recognizes her work, and that is why NBCI supports this book. Our coalition of 16,000 faith-based communities promotes good health practices through health seminars, the development of effective health literature, and wide-reaching preventive-health campaigns. At this time, it is vital that we support health practices that will address the childhood obesity epidemic. Our partnership with Dr. Okie and the National Academies Press will help us accomplish this goal."

Besides the March 8 activities, Dr. Okie will speak at several of NBCI's large congregations in Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., throughout 2005.

"Nothing is more essential to overcoming the childhood obesity epidemic in America than knowledge," wrote William H. Frist, M.D., United Senate Majority Leader, after reading an advance copy of Dr. Okie's book. "Susan Okie's Fed Up! is just what the doctor ordered. Every parent should read this book."

About the National Black Church Initiative The National Black Church Initiative (NBCI) is a coalition of 16,000 African-American and Latino churches working to eradicate racial disparities in healthcare. It is a faith-based health organization dedicated to providing critical wellness information and pre-screening to all of its members. The African-American community ranks first in eleven different health risk categories. NBCI's purpose is to partner with national health officials to provide health education, reduce racial health disparities, and increase access to quality healthcare.

About the National Academies Press The National Academies Press publishes the reports of the National Academies — the National Academy of Sciences, National Academy of Engineering, Institute of Medicine, and National Research Council. The National Academies is a private, nonprofit institution that provides science, technology, and health policy advice under an 1863 congressional charter.

The National Academies Press publishes general interest books on science, medicine/health, and engineering under its general interest imprint, the Joseph Henry Press.