title: CAN DO Houston: a community-based approach to preventing childhood obesity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Comprehensive, community-based efforts may reduce rates of childhood obesity.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Almost half of the children in Houston are overweight or obese, even though Houston has many available resources that support good nutrition, physical activity, and prevention of weight gain among children.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used existing resources to implement a community-based, childhood obesity prevention initiative in 2 low-income neighborhoods in Houston. On the basis of input from community members, we coordinated various activities to promote healthy living, including after-school programs, grocery store tours, wellness seminars, cooking classes, and staff wellness clubs.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Preliminary findings indicated that residents in the communities are using additional opportunities to participate in physical activity and nutrition education.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Implementing a successful childhood obesity prevention initiative in an urban setting is feasible with minimal funding through the use of existing resources.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Nancy Post
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Correa
authors.forename: Nancy G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: Christine A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Baun
authors.forename: Beverly Jean
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Gor
authors.forename: Nicole B
authors.initials: NB
authors.lastname: Hare
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Banerjee
authors.forename: Toral F
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Sindha
authors.forename: Lovell Allan
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Jones
mesh_terms: D002648:Child; D003153:Community Health Services / Q000379:methods; D055812:Community-Based Participatory Research / Q000379:methods*; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012572:School Health Services; D013781:Texas; D014505:Urban Population