Petaluma Health Center and Petaluma Bounty Team Up to Fight Childhood Obesity

The number of obese children in the United States has more than doubled since 1980, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

That's partly due to the fact that children spend less time running around and more watching T.V. or playing video games. Physical education hours have been reduced at many schools, while food has become more caloric.

The impacts on the public health system have been disastrous, with more children now being diagnosed with diabetes and cardiovascular problems, not to say anything about the low self-esteem and social isolation overweight children often experience.

To curb this dangerous trend, the Petaluma Health Center and Petaluma Bounty have recently started a program called PLAY to uses cooking workshops, nutrition education and days at the Petaluma Bounty farm to teach children and their parents about healthy eating.

“This is an intervention method to help kids shift their attitude toward food,” says Suzi Grady, a program director at Petaluma Bounty. “All the children enrolled have a Body Mass Index in the 85th percentile. So they are at a high risk.”

(Children with a BMI in the 85th to 95th percentile are considered “overweight,” while those with a BMI in 95th percentile is considered “obese.”)

During their visit to the Bounty Farm, children play interactive games like a scavenger hunt that gets them running around and looking for certain vegetable. They also receive a box filled with healthy produce during the eight weeks of the program while their parents take classes about cooking and nutrition.   

PLAY is partially funded by grants from U.S. Health Department and the Community Foundation of Sonoma County. Fundraising is ongoing because numerous sessions are scheduled for the summer and fall.  Anyone wishing to donate to the program can do so by visiting petalumabounty.org

Petaluma Bounty is also holding their Brews and Bites for Bounty fundraiser on Tuesday, July 16. Entertainment will be by The Highway Poets, known for their lively blend of rock, folk, and indie music. There will also be Pizza Politana, salad made from Bounty Farm greens and Lagunitas beer. $25 gets you food, plus one drink token.

Event tickets may be purchased in advance at Brown Paper Tickets http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/390021