Fighting Pediatric Obesity
Kids are Happier and Healthier Thanks to Corporate and Community Support

Austin, Texas-February 2010- In its first year, many Central Texas children and families completed the Healthy Living, Happy Living/Vida Sana, Vida Feliz program at Dell Children's, thanks to generous support from Austin Community Foundation, RGK Foundation, St. David's Community Health Foundation and Aetna.

Healthy Living, Happy Living is a ten-week, family based obesity intervention that builds upon four healthy themes-nutrition, physical activity, behavior change/mental health, and family involvement-that teach long-term lifestyle change and modification. Program participants have decreased their body mass index and decreased stress levels in their lives.

"Feedback from the parents of participants has been overwhelmingly positive," says Stephen J. Pont, MD, MPH. "Many families report having happier kids and improved family dynamics at home as the children's self image improves. Kids are even reminding their parents that they should be making healthier choices."

Healthy Living, Happy Living, is the first program of the newly established Texas Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Childhood Obesity at Dell Children's. The center is currently in the active planning phase and will eventually include a multidisciplinary obesity clinic and education, advocacy and research efforts.