** Please visit our website: http://www.africanassociation.org **
> -----Original Message-----
> From: US Dept of HHS: Press Releases, Other Info
> [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
> Date: April 7, 2005
> For Release: Immediately
> Contact: Office of Minority Health
> (301) 443-5224
>
>
> Headline: HHS LAUNCHES AFRICAN AMERICAN OBESITY INITIATIVE
>
> HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt announced today the award of $1.2 million to
> improve efforts to reduce obesity among African Americans through a new
> partnership with national African American organizations.
>
> "The obesity epidemic is one of the major health challenges facing our
> nation, and African American communities are highly affected by this
> disease and its health consequences," Secretary Leavitt said. "The
> initiative we are announcing today will mobilize three of the nation's
> premier
> academic and civic organizations to join us in a new partnership to mount
> critical
> prevention efforts in the African American community."
>
> The National Association for Equal Opportunity in Higher Education
> (NAFEO),
> Silver Spring, Md., will work with the National Urban League, New York,
> N.Y., and the National Council of Negro Women, Washington, D.C.
Initiatives planned by these organizations include prevention, education,
public awareness, and outreach activities intended to bring about a greater
understanding of the impact of obesity on other conditions.
>
> An estimated 129.6 million Americans, or 64 percent, are overweight or
> obese. Obesity and overweight have been shown to increase the risk of
> developing serious and often disabling medical conditions. Adult African
> American women had age-adjusted obesity rates of 48.8 percent, compared to
> 30.7 percent for adult white women, according to data from the Centers
> for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for the period 1999-2002.
> African American girls and boys also had higher rates of overweight than
> white children in the same age groups.
>
> "Obesity is a risk factor for many diseases which disproportionately
> impact minority populations, including heart disease, some cancers,
> diabetes, and stroke," said Dr. Garth Graham, HHS deputy assistant
> secretary for minority health. "Because these problems affect multiple
> groups, we will also be announcing a second phase of the initiative in the
> near future, which will focus on reducing obesity among Hispanic
> populations."
>
> In implementing the new projects targeting African Americans, NAFEO will
> work with five of its member institutions to improve health habits among
> college-age youth: Talladega (Ala.) University; Alcorn (Miss.) State
> University; Lincoln (Pa.) University; South Carolina State University,
> Orangeburg; and Wiley (Texas) College.
>
> The National Council of Negro Women will conduct a research-based public
> education campaign to educate young and mid-life women (ages 35-59) about
> healthy aging and ways to improve their overall health. The Council will
> conduct focus groups among women in Los Angeles, Calif.; Washington, D.C.;
> Chicago, Ill.; New Orleans, La.; and Houston, Texas, as it develops new
> consumer education materials.
>
> The National Urban League will pilot-test an Urban Health and Fitness
> Campaign focused on physical activity, nutrition and prevention of
> diseases such as diabetes. Working through selected local affiliates, the
> project aims to develop comprehensive community action plans, influence
> school-based curricula and health/fitness activities, and provide
> technical assistance to meet community needs.
>
> Note: All HHS press releases, fact sheets and other press materials are
> available at http://www.hhs.gov/news.
>
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe/subscribe or view archives of postings, visit:
http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/aam.html
AAM Website: http://www.africanassociation.org
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
|