Over the last three decades, the obesity epidemic has become a reality, especially among children. One in every six Nebraska students in grades K-12 (16.2%) is overweight, while one in every three (33%) Nebraska students in grades K-12 is either at risk for becoming overweight or obese.  Obesity rates have increased for boys and girls within each ethnic and racial group, but they have increased more for African American, Native American, and Mexican American children.

Health effects associated with being overweight during childhood and adolescence are considerable and related to increased morbidity and mortality later in life.  Overweight and obese children are victims of discrimination, teasing, and bullying. Poor academic performance, particularly in math and reading has been associated with being overweight.  The rising rates of obesity and the resulting adverse health consequences during the past two centuries has led to the widely reported prediction that the youth of today will live less healthy and shorter lives than their parents.

Programs to decrease the incidence and prevalence of overweight and obesity in children must be designed to affect the child at multiple levels that include not only the child, but their interactions with the family, home, school, peers, community, physical environment and cultural and societal levels as well.  The Institute of Medicine's Committee on Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity recommends:

Local governments, public health agencies, schools and community organizations should collaboratively develop and promote programs that encourage healthful eating behaviors and regular physical activity, particularly for populations of high risk of childhood obesity.  Community coalitions should be formed to facilitate and promote crosscutting programs and community-wide efforts. 

In 2006, the Board of Directors of Alegent Health asked its corporate leaders to provide community leadership in addressing childhood obesity in this community.  To that end, Alegent staff joined with Our Healthy Community Partnership (OHCP) to begin a community based endeavor.  The two organizations co-sponsored a Decision Accelerator ("DA") on December 6 and 7, 2006.  During those two days over 75 community constituents participated in passionate dialog and strategic planning focused on what our Metropolitan Omaha area should and could do to impact the growing epidemic of childhood obesity over the next decade.  At the end of the two days, the participants' crafted this shared vision:

In 2011 Omaha is nationally recognized as a collaborative model achieving measurable improvement in fitness and nutrition of children.

Six areas of focus ("planks") were identified around which specific strategies and implementation timelines were articulated.  The following plank committees were formed to implement these plank goals.

• Evaluation
• Physical Environment
• Physical Activity
• Nutrition
• Funding and Resources, and
• Social Marketing. 

A temporary leadership structure (the "Executive Committee") has been formed consisting of subject matter experts to coordinate the work of these plank committees.  To date, over 175 community volunteers have expressed interest in participating in the various plank activities.  Monthly meetings of the Executive Committee and the plank committee have occurred since March 2007.  Attendance has been strong, with interest, passion and opportunities for collaboration high. 
 
The initial activities of the coalition include:

• Recruiting members to the plank committees to assure diverse perspectives and expertise
• Naming the coalition "Activate Omaha Kids" to connect with the existing Activate Omaha social marketing campaign
• Designing a logo
• Launching a website-www.activateomahakids.org
• Limiting the initial scope of the coalition for purposes of data collection and evaluation to Douglas County
• Partnering with a Masters of Public Health student to inventory existing childhood obesity related activities or programs to identify community strengths and gaps in service

Each of the plank committees is now working to identify its focus and priorities. During the next several months each committee will build upon the work of the DA to develop a strategic plan, with goals, action steps, timelines, measures of success and resource needs.  The Executive Committee has set August 16 for its strategic planning session, with the ultimate goal that by September 1 a comprehensive strategic plan for Activate Omaha Kids will be in place and ready to implement.