ABLE Families and the Mingo County Family Resource Network (FRN) recently hosted a community forum on childhood obesity at the FRN office in Williamson. Local organizations and community members joined to talk about how childhood obesity affects them and strategized ways to combat it. ABLE Families' MIHOW in home family educator, Rosemary Dillon and AmeriCorps VISTA, Tracie Blummer, moderated the discussion.

Participants at the Williamson forum were passionate about the issue of childhood obesity. They discussed how school lunch programs, a lack of opportunities for physical activities and a lack of access to mental health counseling all contribute to healthy or unhealthy lifestyle choices. There was some interest in creating a walking group that would provide families with regular exercise opportunities. When asked what communities can do about this issue, one participant said, "We can continue ongoing forums like this and support recreational activities and facilities."

ABLE hosted a second forum at Kermit United Methodist church. VISTAs Tracie Blummer and Matthew Walker guided participants in their discussion of obesity. Participants were concerned that the busy lifestyles of parents contributed to unhealthy eating habits. They were proud of the free gym and walking track in Kermit. One participant said that, "Children and adults should take advantage of the walking track, perhaps as a group." The group thought the major reason the facilities were underused was lack of momentum to start healthy habits and the willpower to keep them.

The obesity forums are a part of a statewide partnership of the West Virginia Center for Civic life, the West Virginia Office of Healthy lifestyles, community development minded organizations and individuals. The Center estimates that 13.9-18.8 percent of children are overweight and 92 percent of US adults believe that childhood obesity is a serious problem. West Virginia consistently ranks among the top 6 US states for adult obesity.

In April, the Center for Civic Life trained and distributed educational DVDs and issue guides to volunteer public forum moderators. The results of the Mingo County forums will be sent to the center and compiled into a report that will influence policy and create programs to combat obesity.

If you are interested in holding a forum in your area or receiving more information about childhood obesity contact Tracie Blummer at ABLE Families, 304-393-4987, or tblummer@wvdreamers.org. ABLE Families is a non-profit organization in Kermit. ABLE provides free summer camp and afterschool programs, a maternal infant health program, a respite program and adult education classes.