Community Health Leadership

A physician's voice is powerful and physicians have the credibility, influence and ability to speak for their patients (who might be voiceless children, adults and families.) Community leadership is one way for physicians to promote policies that support healthier lifestyles and communities for their patients.

Information and Resources

Information and resources to help physicians address changes needed to create healthier lifestyles and healthier communities through community leadership.

• Physicians as Community Health Advocates, Nov. 13, 2011 Workshop Course Outline
• Physician Citizens - Public Roles and Professional Obligations
  Russell L. Gruen, MBBS; Steven D. Pearson, MD, MSc; Troyen A. Brennan, MD, JD, MP
  JAMA
• Grassroots Initiatives to reduce and combat obesity in the United States - includes a list of six initiatives from The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation 2010
• American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
  Resources for pediatricians and other healthcare professionals interested in preventing and treating childhood obesity in the clinical and policy settings
  • Policy Opportunity Tool
  • What Health Professionals Can Do
  • Childhood Obesity Policy Statement
    The AAP policy statements provides ways for physicians to promote healthy lifestyles for their patients and ways for physicians to influence healthier lifestyles in their communities
• National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality
  • Be Our Voice
    This project of the National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality focuses on providing tools/resources and advocacy training for healthcare professionals looking to step out of their clinic and into the community to advocate for healthy weight policies.
    • Advocacy Resource Guide- Training Curriculum
    • State and County Fact Sheets
    • Guide for Healthcare Professionals to partner with community based organizations
    • Success Stories (Healthcare Professionals working with the Community)

Obesity prevention resources

• National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality: Childhood Obesity
  Provides a five-point childhood obesity prevention model (B-B-1-2-0) as well as an obesity prevention implementation guide.
• Maine Youth Overweight Collaborative
  Provides information on healthy lifestyles for schools, workplaces and outlines obesity prevention initiatives.
• American Medical Association
  Provides resources for physicians on obesity prevention.

Healthier lifestyles resources

• America On the Move and America On the Move Foundation
  An evidence-based nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health and quality of life by promoting healthful eating and active living among individuals, families, communities, and society.
• American Diabetes Association
  Provides information on advocacy, nutrition, fitness and diabetes research.
• American Dietetic Association
  Provides science-based food and nutrition information "Food Information You Can Trust".
• We Can! Program
  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (Way to Enhance Children's Activity and Nutrition -- We Can!)
• LetsMove!
  A comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation. For healthcare providers
• The National Physical Activity Plan
  A comprehensive set of policies, programs, and initiatives that aim to increase physical activity in all segments of the American population. It includes implementation recommendations by industry/community sector, ways to get involved to raise weakness and updates on existing advocacy and policy efforts.

Obesity statistics and research

• National Institutes of Health
  Provides societal costs of obesity
• Obesity Society
  provides advocacy information, certification and other resources.
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  provides trends on obesity prevalence in the U.S. – by state, county and other factors – as well as statewide resources.
• CDC's Role in Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
  Julie L. Gerberding, MD, MPH
  This testimony outlines the CDC's focus on addressing the obesity epidemic and its Steps to a healthier US program.