Working Together
for a Fit CNY

Community Call to Action:
Obesity in Onondaga County Kick-Off Event

Media Coverage of Event

Post-Standard OPINION: The Weightiest Issue "Obesity threatens to steal years from children’s lives Guiding our children away from the path to obesity is going to take a serious hange in culture, health professionals tell us". Read More text > (Post-Standard, Tuesday, November 23, 2004) reproduced with permission of The Post Standard, Inc. News 10 Now: Curbing Obesity Updated: 11/18/2004 8:18 AM By: Al Nall, News 10 Now Web Staff

On November 17, 2004, the kick-off entitled “A Community’s Call to Action: Obesity in Onondaga County” took place in Syracuse, NY at the OnCenter Convention Center.

Goal

To engage community stakeholders in developing an Onondaga County plan for obesity awareness, prevention and treatment.

Partners for the kick-off event:

• Onondaga County Health Department
• SUNY Upstate Medical University
• Syracuse University
• Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield of Central New York
• The Commission for a Healthy Central New York

Targeted Audience

• Local schools/school districts
• institutions of higher education
• community based and faith-based organizations
• selected employers
• healthcare providers
• insurers
• local media
• elected officials

One hundred thirty-five representatives from local government, schools, health professionals, institutions of higher education, community and faith based organizations, employers, media, and insurers attended.  The hour and a half event included remarks and presentations from the Onondaga County Executive, The Commission for a Healthy Central New York, Onondaga County Health Department, Syracuse University, and the Genesis Health Project (a faith-based initiative).

Attendees were engaged in small group discussions by sector to commit to future action steps.  A trained leader served as facilitator for a 30-minute small group discussion.  Attendees were asked to complete action sheets to identify the ways in which they would like to become involved in further community dialogue and projects.

Outcome

• 135 people attended
• 118 (87%) committed to 843 future action steps
• 55(46.6%) of attendees are willing to continue their participation by being on a work group
• 79.6% personally committed to serve as a role model for others

Evaluation

• 79 (58.5%) completed evaluation forms
• 96% of the respondents felt the event was well organized and that the event increased their understanding of the obesity epidemic
• 88% responded that they were exposed to new information
• 29% indicated there was not enough time for this event
• 42% of the attendees were health care providers/professionals
• 22% of the attendees represented community or faith-based organizations
• 20% of the attendees represented schools or institutions of higher education

To date, the following have directly resulted from the 11/17/04 event:

• Educational presentations scheduled with physician groups
• Scheduled City of Syracuse school nurses education program
• Host additional educational presentations (i.e. youth serving organizations)