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Childhood Obesity



 Western Baptist is dedicated to educating the community about the growing problem of childhood obesity. The hospital has initiated and supported several programs in the community aimed at educating, informing and alleviating this national epidemic.

  One in three U.S. children is overweight or obese, which can lead to serious health problems now and later. National surveys show that 20 percent of preschoolers and 30 percent of school-age children are overweight, with 15 percent of school-age children considered obese. In the last 20 years, the number of overweight children has doubled, while the number of obese adolescents has tripled.

  Childhood obesity is on the rise, and Kentucky leads the nation in smoking. We need to intervene early to educate children, parents, teachers and anyone involved in their care to make their adult lives healthy and happy. We know preventing or treating childhood obesity may reduce the risk of developing heart disease.

  • Western Baptist funds the two-year fitness program, Project Fit America (http://www.projectfitamerica.org/), at four regional elementary schools: Paducah's McNabb Elementary (http://paducah.kyschools.us/mcnabb/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=38&Itemid=117), Graves Central (http://www.graves.k12.ky.us/schools/central/archives/Project%20fit%20America.htm) and Lone Oak Elementary, and Concord Elementary. While new playground equipment with fitness stations offered new activity options, the accompanying curriculum and teacher training for all grade levels integrated a fit lifestyle in their daily lessons.
  • Cardiologist Patrick Withrow, Western Baptist vice president and chief medical officer, has made the fight against childhood obesity a priority. Dr. Withrow participated in a school play based on "The Wizard of Oz" characters to teach children the importance of a heart-healthy lifestyle. He also used pig organs from a local slaughterhouse to show middle school students the effects of fat on their bodies. See these videos on www.youtube.com/westernbaptist.
  • Cardiac rehab nurse Kay Marshall, R.N., spent 18 months developing a program for overweight youths in our area. Marshall teamed with Hendron Lone Oak Elementary (HLOE) and the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) to bring The CARDIAC Project to Paducah. The CARDIAC Project is a chronic disease risk surveillance and intervention initiative designed to combat the unacceptably higher prevalence of heart disease and diabetes. Volunteers from Western Baptist and AHEC gave health screenings to HLOE fourth graders, including cholesterol and blood sugar, body mass index (BMI), height and weight, and the Harvard fitness test.     
  • “Healthy Living,” a program on Paducah’s Channel 2, features a program on healthy eating and activities for children as part of Western Baptist Hospital’s educational efforts to curb childhood obesity. The show, hosted by Western Baptist customer service director Stacey Young, features guests Patrick Withrow, M.D., Western Baptist vice president and chief medical officer, and dietitian Sherry Golightly. It can be viewed at http://tv.westkentucky.kctcs.edu/videoclips/healthy_living/.