The childhood obesity response in Florida: where do we stand?
BACKGROUND
Childhood obesity is a major public health problem that is the focus of many child health programs and policies throughout the nation. Florida in particular has high rates of childhood obesity and inconsistent policies to address the issue. This paper examines the scope and challenge of addressing the childhood obesity epidemic in Florida from the perspective of childhood obesity stakeholders.


METHODS
As part of a larger assessment of the health of Florida's children for the Florida Child Health and Healthcare Quality Chartbook, the authors conducted focus groups and interviews with stakeholders from private and public organizations. The stakeholders represented healthcare providers, state and local agencies, and community-based programs that address nutrition and physical activity education, access to healthcare, health screenings, and environmental and policy change related to preventing childhood obesity.


RESULTS
Stakeholders identified best practices, challenges, barriers, and priorities for addressing childhood obesity. Multilevel approaches, emphasizing the family were identified as best practices, along with the need for environmental policy change. Funding and a need for data were identified as the biggest challenges, while overcoming barriers such as myths and misinformation and developing a unified obesity message were identified as motivators.


CONCLUSIONS
The major findings indicate that, although positive progress is being made in specific communities, a coordinated and comprehensive response is needed. To create policy and normative change, a statewide, multilevel framework is needed with a unifying message to better target policymakers. The framework should include targeted efforts at all levels that include education, promotion and environmental policy change.
University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Department of Community and Family Health, Tampa, FL, USA. tara.trudnak@academyhealth.org
Tara
T
Trudnak
Stephanie T
ST
Melton
Lisa
L
Simpson
Julie
J
Baldwin
D002648:Child; D002662:Child Health Services; D003142:Communication; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D005192:Family Health / Q000191:economics / Q000193:education; D005431:Florida / Q000453:epidemiology; D006266:Health Education / Q000379:methods; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic / Q000592:standards; D011634:Public Health; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012572:School Health Services / Q000191:economics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence