Child Obesity Discussed At Colorado State’s Center for Public Deliberation Forum in Loveland Oct. 16

Child obesity rates are on the rise in Colorado, and local communities are addressing this issue in response to the growing epidemic. Twenty-three percent of Loveland fourth-grade students are overweight and an additional 16 percent are at risk for becoming overweight, according to a 2007 survey conducted by HeartAware, a heart disease prevention program in Thomson School District.

The Colorado State University Center for Public Deliberation, or CPD, will host a community issues forum titled, "Weighing the Options: How Can We Encourage Healthy Weights Among America’s Youth?" from 7-9 p.m. Oct. 16 at Loveland High School, 920 W. 29th St., Loveland, Colo.

"This collaboration is reflective of what we’re hoping to accomplish in the Loveland area by bringing people to the table from a variety of sectors to shape the vision of this community," said Kristin Kirkpatick, obesity prevention specialist with CanDo Loveland. "Next year we will invite people to the table to roll up their sleeves and help us put this community vision to work."

According to the Colorado Physical Activity and Nutrition Coalition, more than one-third of premature deaths in Colorado are associated with obesity. Diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and type 2 diabetes may stem from obesity and contribute to these deaths.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity, or CanDo, and LiveWell Loveland. Community members are encouraged to participate.

The information gathered at this forum will be used to assist CanDo and LiveWell Loveland in developing a comprehensive community action plan based on needs the community specifies.

LiveWell Colorado is sponsored by Kaiser Permanente, the Colorado health foundation and the Colorado Department of Health and Environment. The typical commitment LiveWell Colorado makes with these organizations is five to seven years, with eligible funding up to $250,000 per year.

Non-partisan student facilitators will moderate the forum, and the discussion will be documented to ensure that concerns, ideas and questions will be addressed.

Participants will be entered into a raffle for a chance to win a $100 gift certificate to King Soopers or an iPod.

Prospective participants may RSVP to Mart?n Carcasson at (970) 491-5628 or cpd@colostate.edu. RSVP is preferred but not required.

About the CSU Center for Public Deliberation     

The CPD was founded in 2006 and is dedicated to enhancing local democracy through improved public communication and community problem solving. The organization coordinates and hosts numerous events in the Fort Collins and Loveland communities. Community issues forums focus on local and national issues, including various workshops tied to public participation and civic engagement. Student associates are trained as non-partisan facilitators and conveners, and focus on helping the public unite and address critical issues in a more effective manner.

For more information, contact Martin Carcasson at (970) 491-5628 or cpd@colostate.edu.

About LiveWell Colorado and CanDo

CanDo – the Coalition for Activity and Nutrition to Defeat Obesity – is a community-wide task force that works to improve the health of the community by increasing physical activity and healthy eating to reduce and prevent obesity. CanDo is the coordinating agency for the LiveWell initiatives in Fort Collins and Loveland. The vision of CanDo is for Fort Collins and Loveland to become model 21st century communities in which healthy lifestyles are valued and practiced by citizens. The goal is to create opportunities for physical activity and healthy eating that are supported by local government, worksites, schools and the health-care community.     

For more information about CanDo and LiveWell Loveland, contact Kristin Kirkpatrick at (970) 624-1879 or kh12@pvhs.org.

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