Media Advisory Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Full Potential Pediatric Obesity Initiative Luncheon Wednesday

MEDIA ADVISORYWHAT:  Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Full Potential Pediatric Obesity InitiativeAn update to: Facts About Growing Up Healthy in Franklin County: 2008 Collaborative Childrens Health Report WHEN:  Wednesday, April 1, 200912 p.m. media opportunityWHERE:  The Hilton ColumbusEaston Town Center3900 Chagrin Dr.Columbus, OH 43219*Media: Once inside the Hilton at Easton, please follow signs to our event location, or call Mary Ellen Peacock at (614) 937-7316WHO:  -Erica Palmore, 10, F.A.N. Club participant at Livingston Elementary and her family members-Dr. Gene Harris, superintendent, Columbus City Schools-Doug Wolf, certified athletic trainer with Nationwide Childrens Hospital Fitness and Nutrition Club (F.A.N. Club)-Abigail Wexner, board chair, Nationwide Childrens Hospital-Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer, Nationwide Childrens HospitalADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In May 2008, Nationwide Childrens Hospital began a community-wide conversation about the state of pediatric health. Summarizing data from 10 leading health indicators, the hospital and its 20 community collaborators provided the first report on the current state of child health in central Ohio Full Potential. The most prominent among those threats for future health complications of our children was childhood obesity.During a noon luncheon Wednesday at the Hilton at Easton, Nationwide Childrens will unveil an updated report highlighting strategies within the community to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. One of the more notable programs the hospital launched over the past year was the Fitness and Nutrition Club (F.A.N. Club) with Columbus City Schools a 30-week after school program, targeting third through fifth graders, teaching the importance of making healthy decisions about nutrition and physical activity. To put a face to it, one of the student participants, Erica Palmore, 10, of Livingston Elementary School, moved from the clinically obese to the overweight category for her age group by physical activity in the F.A.N. Club and by eating right at home with her family. By March 2009, 20 students from Livingston and Lincoln Park Elementary Schools (out of a total of 54 participants) had improved their overall fitness and decreased their BMI. -30-CONTACT: Mary Ellen PeacockNationwide Childrens Hospital Marketing and Public Relations(614) 355-0495Cell: (614) 937-7316

MEDIA ADVISORYWHAT:  Nationwide Childrens Hospitals Full Potential Pediatric Obesity InitiativeAn update to: Facts About Growing Up Healthy in Franklin County: 2008 Collaborative Childrens Health Report WHEN:  Wednesday, April 1, 200912 p.m. media opportunityWHERE:  The Hilton ColumbusEaston Town Center3900 Chagrin Dr.Columbus, OH 43219*Media: Once inside the Hilton at Easton, please follow signs to our event location, or call Mary Ellen Peacock at (614) 937-7316WHO:  -Erica Palmore, 10, F.A.N. Club participant at Livingston Elementary and her family members-Dr. Gene Harris, superintendent, Columbus City Schools-Doug Wolf, certified athletic trainer with Nationwide Childrens Hospital Fitness and Nutrition Club (F.A.N. Club)-Abigail Wexner, board chair, Nationwide Childrens Hospital-Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer, Nationwide Childrens HospitalADDITIONAL INFORMATION: In May 2008, Nationwide Childrens Hospital began a community-wide conversation about the state of pediatric health. Summarizing data from 10 leading health indicators, the hospital and its 20 community collaborators provided the first report on the current state of child health in central Ohio Full Potential. The most prominent among those threats for future health complications of our children was childhood obesity.During a noon luncheon Wednesday at the Hilton at Easton, Nationwide Childrens will unveil an updated report highlighting strategies within the community to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity. One of the more notable programs the hospital launched over the past year was the Fitness and Nutrition Club (F.A.N. Club) with Columbus City Schools a 30-week after school program, targeting third through fifth graders, teaching the importance of making healthy decisions about nutrition and physical activity. To put a face to it, one of the student participants, Erica Palmore, 10, of Livingston Elementary School, moved from the clinically obese to the overweight category for her age group by physical activity in the F.A.N. Club and by eating right at home with her family. By March 2009, 20 students from Livingston and Lincoln Park Elementary Schools (out of a total of 54 participants) had improved their overall fitness and decreased their BMI. -30-CONTACT: Mary Ellen PeacockNationwide Childrens Hospital Marketing and Public Relations(614) 355-0495Cell: (614) 937-7316