The AzAAP Obesity Committee consists of Chapter members from diverse settings and specialties and from various geographic regions of Arizona.  The Committee also welcomes input from other experts to help develop solutions and creative ways pediatricians can collaborate with other leaders to influence families and the community to live more healthy lives and combat childhood obesity. 

The committee’s efforts have been nationally recognized.  Some of its accomplishments include:

• Creating and distributing the "5210 AZ Way To Go!" Obesity Prevention toolbox for clinicians and school nurses.  The group also measured the toolbox’s usefulness  and obtained feedback on possible improvements;
• Producing several position papers and policy statements describing the scope of the childhood obesity problem, best practices, Arizona efforts, gaps and proposed actions for childcare centers, schools and local governments; and,
• Implementing a media strategy to help provide the community with a consistent message:
  Eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies a day
  Limit screen time to 2 hours or less a day
  Be physically active at least 1 hour a day
  Try to limit sugary drinks to near 0 per day
• Presenting at various clinical and non-clinical conferences to parents, residents, and community organizations as well as to state agency representatives working to eliminate the childhood obesity epidemic.

Committee priorities include:

• Increase awareness and use of the 5210 AZ Way To Go! obesity prevention toolbox;
• Implement enhancements to the 5210 AZ Way To Go! obesity prevention toolbox;
• Use media to drive families to the GetFitAZKids website through behavior-changing messages to broaden influence;
• Involve stakeholders in disseminating the message of the tools of obesity prevention and treatment
• Update expert guidelines for obesity prevention, assessment, treatment, referral and appropriate payment for services.

Committee Leadership:

Committee Chair:  Farah Lokey, MD, FAAP 
AzAAP Staff:  Veronica Venturini

Click here to email the Chapter with your interest in this committee.