Home and Community Solutions
·         With Bloomberg’s proposed soda ban setting the stage for this panel, speakers championed the individual citizen’s informed choice over governmental bans or taxes on food.
·         The panel instead supported educational health campaigns, parental role models, and community partnerships.
·         Mayors are connecting the private and public sector to fund community renovation. By partnering with organizations, cities can create safe clean parks, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc.
·         Churches and workplaces are now incorporating wellness services.

Sam Kass Keynote Luncheon
·         The Army says obesity is the #1 disqualifying factor for service in the military. Four-star generals say obesity is the #1 threat to national security. Sometimes out of shape recruits need pre boot camp before boot camp.

Disparities Solutions Panel
·         Health care providers need to understand the cultural dynamics and gender specific issues w/n the African American community.
·         Doctors should be reimbursed for providing the ongoing counseling needed for lifestyle changes.
·         ACA allocates $16 million in funds for obesity and hypertension, and $74 million in prevention funds (which include obesity as it relates to heart disease and diabetes). But small communities and non-profits are competing with big boys (John Hopkins and AHA) in a losing battle for funds.
·         Instead of talking about childhood obesity, which can plant seeds for body image issues, shift dialogue to spotlight health; how to build healthy families and healthy cities and communities.
·         Why are white people the gold standards against which African Americans are compared? Journalists need to be aware of what stories they cover and promote. Recently a study claiming black girls don’t benefit as much from exercise as white girls got extensive media coverage, even though the study was fraught with design errors.

School-Based Solutions Panel
·         Physical education should be kept in schools and held to high standards. It should incorporate assessable learning outcomes and planned sequential sessions. The CDC has a Physical Education Curriculum Analysis Tool .
·         Get creative. Serve pizza w/ portobello mushrooms the children grew in a school garden during science class.
·         Panelists debunked the assumption that it costs more to eat healthy.
·         The ABA representative said their recent change in school beverage offerings was well received, and credited the focus groups they had with mothers prior to for the smooth transition.
·         Two good resources mentioned were the National Wildlife Federation’s Eco-schools program , and the Parent-Teacher Association’s family-school partnerships .

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