Organization "coaches" area families into becoming healthier
By Donna C. Gregory ASSISTANT EDITOR
Being above average is usually a good thing, but unfortunately that's not the case for Chesterfield County's overweight children.

According to the Chesterfield Health District, 34 percent of Chesterfield's children are overweight or at-risk of becoming overweight. That's slightly more than the national average of 32 percent.

"For years, there have been the national statistics that Americans are becoming more and more overweight and inactive," explained Gail Sutler, the health district's director of nursing. "Chesterfield is just like the rest of America. We do have a problem."

But the Chesterfield Coalition for Active Children COACH) is trying to change that.

Formed in 2002, COACH is a coalition of public and private organizations that have partnered to promote improved nutrition and increased physical activity among Chesterfield families. COACH's current membership includes the American Heart Association, Bon Secours Richmond Health System, the Chesterfield County Health Department, Chesterfield County Public Schools, Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation and others.

So far, COACH has concentrated its efforts on gathering data from Chesterfield children through height/weight screenings each school year, and by hosting an annual health festival that promotes healthy lifestyles. The group also sponsors COACH Day, an initiative that encourages families to eat a healthy meal or enjoy some form of physical activity together each Thursday.

Additionally, COACH links Chesterfield families with resources to combat weight gain among children.

"We want to operate like a clearinghouse...to be the organization that promotes and can get this information out to the public," explained Lynne Bennett, COACH chair.

A list of online resources is currently available on COACH's Web site at www.co.chesterfield.va.us/COACH. Families can also call COACH at 748-1706 for more individualized assistance.

"We try to help them look at their lifestyle and then match their interests with resources in the community. Say it's a family who has an overweight child, and he doesn't like sports or team activities, but he does enjoy swimming. We can identify places where they may be able to swim at a lower rate," said Sutler, who is also a COACH board member.

COACH's impact on the community may soon get a boost when the organization earns its 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designation.

"Everything we've done so far has just been on contributions, so we really need to get the 501(c)(3), so we can apply for grants," explained Sutler.

Future grant funding may be used to sponsor healthy, fun activities for county families and conduct studies that could show why the number of overweight children in Chesterfield exceeds the national average.

However, based on national data, Sutler already has her own conclusions.

"As Americans, we are over invested in what we're doing on a daily basis. We're anxious to have everything, and therefore, we're not looking at quality of life issues," she explained. "Fast is important for us. We're looking for fast meals. We're eating more and more fast foods, which are not necessarily bad, but the way we use them is bad, because we make the wrong choices. When we do eat at home, as a society, we are eating foods that are more prepared."

Children and their families also tend to be less physically active than in the past.

"More and more of the activities children are interested in are sedentary [such as watching television or playing video games]. The children are not getting the activity of going outside and playing active games," observed Sutler.

COACH currently meets on the third Friday of each month, and membership is open to any organization or individual that shares in the group's mission.

For more information, call 748-1706.