Obesity Prevention & Care

Obesity Prevention & Care | Breastfeeding | News | Advocacy

About Obesity Prevention

ICAAP established its Obesity Prevention Initiatives in response to the alarming increase in the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity.

The cumulative evidence demonstrates that much of the morbidity and mortality associated with these conditions may be preventable through a combination of factors including access to healthy foods, opportunities for physical activity, and support for dietary and lifestyle modifications. Key stakeholders, including ICAAP, are focusing efforts on developing high impact programs to lower the rates of childhood obesity by working closely with researchers and pediatricians to identify effective ways that pediatricians can promote healthy behaviors among patients and families to achieve sustainable behavior change.

ICAAP’s strategies include assisting pediatricians and other medical providers in the Chicagoland area to improve their care of obese and overweight children and to implement effective prevention strategies with at risk patients and families.

Current Project: Promoting Health II

In 2011, ICAAP began Promoting Health: Improving Quality in Obesity Care.

The project addresses public and private payer coverage and reimbursement of obesity-related care; seeks to integrate an obesity quality measure and other quality improvement activities, including Maintenance of Certification, into the Illinois CHIPRA Quality Demonstration Project; addresses gaps in physical activity programs and comprehensive care; works to expand the database of community resources outside of the City of Chicago, and connects physicians to advocacy opportunities in their communities. [...more]

Previous Project: Promoting Health I

In 2009, ICAAP initiated Promoting Health: Strengthening Practices & Links to Community Resources.

The project was developed from the 2007 ICAAP study of Illinois pediatricians and a self-identified need by pediatric primary care clinicians for nutrition and patient counseling education. [...more]

Provider Resources

Click here for clinical resources related to prevention and treatment of overweight and obesity.

Get Involved

To join the Committee on Obesity or for more information about ICAAP’s obesity projects, contact:

Mary Elsner, JD
Director, Obesity Prevention Initiatives
312/733-1026, ext. 220
melsner@illinoisaap.com