Hospitals Lead Obesity Prevention Efforts

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Five Ohio hospitals are teaming up with local organizations to fight obesity, aided by $100,000 in grants from the Ohio Hospital Association’s Foundation for Healthy Communities. Hospitals are:

• Dunlap Community Hospital, Orrville
• Grand Lake Health System, St. Marys
• Mercy Hospital Fairfield
• Southern Ohio Medical Center, Portsmouth
• St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, Cleveland

Helping Ohio hospitals promote health and wellness in their communities since 1994, OHA’s Foundation for Healthy Communities is awarding “Hospitals for Healthier Ohioans” grants to five Ohio hospitals taking measures to engage local communities in long-term efforts to reduce obesity.

Since its inception, the foundation, an arm of the Ohio Hospital Association, has awarded nearly $1.6 million in grants to 129 Ohio hospital community health improvement projects. The newest grants will be presented on June 16 during the Leadership Luncheon at the OHA Annual Meeting at the Columbus Hilton at Easton.

The grants include:

• Dunlap Community Hospital, $14,919, The Wellness Corridor – Cradle to College
  To address obesity prevention and reduction in the Orrville area, Dunlap Community Hospital’s Corridor project will work with three distinct demographic groups. Pregnant women and new mothers will be encouraged to breastfeed their babies through an expanded hospital breastfeeding program. A continuing education unit (CEU) course will be developed and offered to local kindergarten through 8^th grade teachers to incorporate daily wellness messages into the classrooms.  Lastly, a wellness program will be offered to students at the University of Akron Wayne College campus to improve college student awareness of future health consequences of their current health status. 
   

• Grand Lake Health System, $23,222, Grand Health Family Challenge
  The hospital will take its highly successful adult Grand Health Challenge, which has helped approximately 1,500 residents lose 12,000 pounds, to a new level by adding a family component in order to combat childhood obesity in rural Auglaize, Mercer, Allen and Shelby counties.  Partnering with local newspapers and two area YMCAs, the hospital will make modifications to its adult program to address the needs of obesity in children by involving the entire family in the challenge.
   
• Mercy Hospital Fairfield, $15,334, Elementary Wellness Program
  Third grade students at East Elementary School will be the focus of this wellness program, which aims to combat obesity in the community by teaching students healthy behaviors related to fitness, nutrition, lifestyle management and how to retain these healthy habits for a lifetime. By reaching children at a formative age when their tastes, habits and beliefs are still developing, this wellness program will change attitudes and behaviors to create a lifelong orientation for healthy lifestyle, nutrition and fitness.
   
• Southern Ohio Medical Center, $21,612, LEAP Program
  Addressing Scioto County’s ranking as the 87^th most obese county in the state, Southern Ohio Medical Center will teach residents how to lead a healthy life through education related to Lifestyle, Eating, Activity and Planning (LEAP). Partnering with the Portsmouth Area Chamber of Commerce and Community Action Organization, the LEAP Program will offer children, teenagers and adults targeted lifestyle education and counseling to lower obesity and increase the health of residents.
   
• St. Vincent Charity Medical Center, $24,913, Healthy Eating/Active Living: Eat well, move more, smile often
  St. Vincent Charity Medical Center will work with disadvantaged inner-city residents in neighborhoods surrounding the Cleveland hospital to teach and encourage behavior changes to help residents lead healthier lifestyles. A community-wide diabetes screening campaign revealed a startling need to offer residents opportunities for making lifestyle changes. The hospital and its partners will recruit residents from two major housing sites to offer culturally-appropriate obesity prevention and reduction interventions.

About the Foundation for Healthy Communities
The Foundation for Healthy Communities was established in 1994 with a mission to advance good health for all Ohioans. It initiates and champions health improvement and education by engaging partners, promoting proven strategies and advocating for wellness. Learn more about the Foundation for Healthy Communities at www.HealthyCommunitiesOhio.org.

About OHA
The Ohio Hospital Association was established in 1915 and currently represents 169 hospitals and 18 health systems throughout Ohio. OHA is a membership-driven organization that provides proactive leadership to create an environment in which Ohio hospitals are successful in serving their communities. Visit OHA’s Web site at www.ohanet.org. Follow OHA on Twitter at http://twitter.com/OhioHospitals. 

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