April 15, 2010

CONTACT:
Communications Department
(320) 251-2700, ext. 74980

BLEND promotes wellness program with physicians

St. Cloud, Minn. – BLEND (Better Living: Exercise & Nutrition Daily), led by the CentraCare Health Foundation, is working to engage health care professionals in the prevention, assessment and intervention of overweight and obesity in children by promoting the 5-2-1-0 Wellness Program. 5-2-1-0 is designed to encourage smart eating and physical activity for children and families. The concept focuses on making changes in nutrition and physical activity that can be both healthy and fun.

BLEND’s Medical Committee, comprised of physicians from CentraCare Clinic, St. Cloud Medical Group, Health Partners Central Minnesota Clinics and Williams Integracare Clinic, has developed tools for health care providers to use in their office to address the issues of childhood obesity, which includes materials for both patients and providers. When young patients come in for office visits, they are given a 5-2-1-0 “prescription” to put on their refrigerator as a reminder of the daily guidelines for nutrition and physical activity they need.

What is 5-2-1-0?
This simple message is easy to remember and a great way for families to eat healthy and be active:
5 – eat five fruits or vegetables each day;
2 – cut TV and screen time to two hours or less each day;
1 – participate in at least one hour of moderate physical activity;
0 – drink zero calories from sugar sweetened beverages and instead, drink water and three to four servings of skim or one percent milk.

The “prescription” pad also tracks the child’s Body Mass Index (BMI), which is a number calculated from a child’s weight and height. For children and teens, BMI is age- and sex-specific and is often referred to as BMI-for-age. BMI is an inexpensive and easy to perform method of
screening to identify possible weight problems for children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend the use of BMI to screen for overweight and obesity in children beginning at 2 years old.

The number of overweight children ages 6 to 19 has tripled since 1970, according to a 2007 New England Journal of Medicine study. Extra pounds are causing health problems in kids that were once confined to adults, such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Overweight children also are at greater risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, social and psychological problems such as poor self-esteem.

“These statistics are very concerning,” said David Smith, MD, a pediatrician from the St. Cloud Medical Group. “So concerning the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation declared, ‘If we don’t succeed in reversing this epidemic, we are in danger of raising the first generation of American children who will live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generation.’ The best way to address excess weight in a child is to improve the diet and physical activity practices of the entire family.”

With the help of community partners, BLEND works with schools, youth-serving organizations, local government and the medical community to raise awareness about good health for kids and families. BLEND offers many community events throughout the year including the Walk at School program, BLEND Kids Expo, Earth Day Youth Run and Parade of Bikes.

Learn more about BLEND

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