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Program takes aim at childhood obesityAddressing the growing problem of childhood obesity has become a priority for Allina Hospitals and Clinics and the New Ulm Medical Center. Through partnerships and grants, including a major grant from Kraft Foods in New Ulm, families in the area have benefited in the last year from various programs targeting the crisis. Now, Rebecca Fliszar, a Registered and Licensed Dietician, has been charged with making the childhood obesity initiative her focus. Fliszar is also a certified specialist in pediatric nutrition; one of only seven in the state of Minnesota. Fliszar has been working in dietetics for over seven years. The New Ulm native also spent eight years in the Army Reserve and became fluent in Spanish after completing a language immersion program in Monterey, California. This allows her to serve a greater number of residents from New Ulm and the surrounding areas. Fliszar and her husband Eric, a native of Chicago, returned to New Ulm to raise their four children in a community focused on quality education systems and traditional values. Fliszar sees patients in the clinic one day a week and works occasionally in the hospital setting when needed. While there has always been a dietician available to patients in the clinic setting, the pediatric focus is a new part of this service, with Fliszar’s unique certification lending expertise to the program. “Pediatric obesity is a growing epidemic and it is the responsibility of parents and community members to change this trend. For the first time, children are no longer expected to have a greater lifespan than their parents. By changing the habits and lifestyles of our kids, we are changing the face of America. ” Fliszar said. Startling statistics back her up. The Centers for Disease Control states that the number of overweight children aged 6-19 has tripled within the past two decades. With that in mind, Fliszar has been instrumental in creating a weight loss program aimed at children entitled Shape Down, which will be offered this fall at the medical center. A grant from Kraft Foods in New Ulm will help to pay for the program’s start-up costs. The course requires two instructors – one to work with the children and one to work with their parents. “We will be teaching strategies not only for improving nutrition, but also increasing the children’s self-esteem, maintaining a positive attitude, and understanding why kids are eating the amounts and kinds of foods that they are.” Fliszar said. The classes will be broken into three age groups: 6 to 9, 10 to 12 and 13 to 16. “Participants will be grouped with other kids similar in age that are facing the same challenges they are facing.” Each class will have the capacity for up to 12 children and their parents. Interested families should speak to their physicians and obtain a medical clearance to participate. Three 10-week sessions per year are planned. The classes will cover some of what Fliszar discusses with patients she sees weekly in her clinic office: portion control, emotional eating, the importance of physical activity throughout the day and identifying healthy versus unhealthy foods. “Our focus is making lifelong changes, not temporary weight changes.” she states. Fliszar also sits on the Wellness Committee at New Ulm Area Catholic Schools. All schools are now required by federal mandate to have Wellness Committees that look at nutrition and physical activity throughout the school day. Sedentary lifestyles, uncontrolled portions and fast food are among the common culprits that Fliszar sees in the fight against childhood obesity. Battling a sedentary lifestyle has led to another initiative called the “Fit Kids” program, Fliszar said. This is an opportunity for elementary aged children to spend 2 hours a week after school doing fun, healthy activities instead of turning on the TV or computer. NUMC is partnering with all three elementary schools and the Park and Recreation Program to bring this physical activity program to kids one day a week. Part of this program will also feature the Family Recreation Center pool being open to all school age kids on Fridays during the school year. This offers kids yet another opportunity to stay active even through the cold winter months. These programs can go a long way toward battling childhood obesity. Statistics show that nearly 60% of children aged 9-13 don’t participate in any type of physical activity program outside of school. This number increases for those children whose parents have lower incomes and education levels. Fliszar encourages all families to take advantage of some or all of these new programs being made available to the community. This is an excellent opportunity to invest in the health of our children.  Back to Health Addition Articles |
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New Ulm Medical Center
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