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Childhood obesity is considered one of the nation's fastest growing epidemics and one of the leading causes of type 2 diabetes.  It's estimated that more than five million children in the United States are obese, and  85 percent of this group is diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.  Type 2 is the most common form of diabetes, and if left untreated can lead to  heart disease, blindness, nerve and/or kidney damage.  It is a disease that disproportionately affects African Americans and Hispanics.       
 
In a effort to help stem the tide of this nationwide epidemic, Sinai Hospital of Baltimore has begun a new community initiative program.  Sinai will be partnering with a variety of neighborhood centers to jump-start nutrition and exercise programs throughout the community. The pilot program is now under way in collaboration with St. Ambrose Outreach Center in Park Heights.  "Reaching Healthy Heights: Children Preventing type 2 Through Power Foods and Fitness" has been funded by a grant from the Aetna Foundation.

"Through this program, our goal is to make the biggest impact on the health issues facing the residents of our community," said Neil Meltzer, president of Sinai Hospital.  "And reducing cardiovascular conditions in the high-risk populations within our community means focusing on obesity and preventing type 2 diabetes.  We are proud to be working with such organizations as St. Ambrose and are grateful for the financial help companies like Aetna can provide."

The Reaching Healthy Heights program is designed to teach children what a well-balanced and nutritious diet is and how eating healthy and exercising can help them grow up to be healthy adults. Pediatricians from Sinai assessed 75 children who are part of the St. Ambrose after-school program.  The children, who range in ages from 7 to 14, had their blood pressure measured; their height and weight were also measured, which helped to determine their body mass index. 

The program features biweekly educational sessions, which focus on teaching the children about healthy eating and exercise.  The children's parents are also encouraged to get involved.  Program educators will work with the parents, teaching them the importance of proper diets, meal selection and safe exercise routines.

Sinai recently undertook a comprehensive study of what community health initiatives have the potential to make the biggest difference and found that, as in the rest of the nation, childhood obesity and its related diseases are a major problem in its neighborhoods.  Dr. Peter Beilenson, the former Baltimore City health commissioner, identified obesity in children as the number one priority that could optimally be addressed by a major health care provider such as Sinai Hospital.

 The Aetna Foundation, which provided the grant for The Reaching Healthy Heights program, is the independent charitable and philanthropic arm of Aetna Inc.  Founded in 1972, Aetna Foundation seeks to help build healthy communities by funding initiatives that improve the quality of life where their employees and customers work and live. "Improving the quality of health by reducing racial and ethnic disparities is a central objective for Aetna," said Aetna Chairman and CEO John W. Rowe, M.D.  

Sinai Hospital is part of LifeBridge Health, a regional healthcare organization that also includes Northwest Hospital Center, Levindale Hebrew Geriatric Center and Hospital, Jewish Convalescent & Nursing Home, and related subsidiaries and affiliates.

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