- National program to build on BCBSNC pilot, materials The Good Health Club Physician Toolkit SM Newest Blue Cross and Blue Shield Effort to Curb the Rise in Diabetes
- BCBSNC will give new tools to physicians statewide to fight childhood obesity, diabetes
- Briefing webcast from National Press Building, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) today announced the national launch of the Good Health Club Physician ToolkitSM to combat childhood obesity and diabetes. The toolkit, first developed and piloted in five states including North Carolina, will be made available to pediatricians throughout North Carolina and communities around the country. The physician toolkit was built on materials successfully used by BCBSNC and developed in consultation with the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The toolkit is available in both English and Spanish and contain stip sheets, wall posters, physician reference materials, tracking sheets and brochures with educational information.
The Good Health Club Physician Toolkit features messages from the “Good Health Club,” a group of animal characters that encourages children to:
- Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day
- Limit screen time to 2 hours or less per day
- Get at least 1 hour of physical activity per day
- Limit sweetened drinks to 0
Dr. Don Bradley, senior vice president and chief medical officer at BCBSNC, said at the news conference, “It’s worth every effort to open doors for discussion between doctor, parent and child - to make a difference in the lives of our children, to help them learn the practice of healthier eating habits, good nutrition, and getting more exercise. We’re pleased that our early concepts with our own toolkit contributed to the Good Health Club Physician Toolkit. The toolkit distributed nationally will take the fight against childhood obesity to a new level by providing pediatricians with essential tools to encourage lifelong healthy living habits for America’s youth.”
Dr. Edie Bernosky, Chapel Hill pediatrician, provided her views on the importance of these tools in counseling patients, “As a practicing pediatrician in North Carolina, I have seen the value of using the toolkits provided by Blue Cross. I find it helpful in opening conversations on the difficult subject of childhood obesity and diabetes. Quality tools like this are extremely helpful to physicians and families in encouraging healthy lifestyles."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the last two decades type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes) has been reported among U.S. children and adolescents with increasing frequency. One in three U.S. children born in 2000 could develop diabetes during their lifetime and the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past 20 years, going from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2006.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has pioneered a wide variety of programs in our community focusing on healthy lifestyles dating back to 1999. Healthy Lifestyle Choices, a lifestyle modification program, provided customers with tools and support to achieve and maintain healthy weight. In 2005, BCBSNC became one of the first insurers to classify obesity as a medical condition and cover nutritionist visits. Since 2007, the company developed model toolkits to help families exercise regularly and take charge of managing their overall health and well-being.
Dr. Edie Bernosky, Chapel Hill pediatrician, provided her views on the importance of these tools in counseling patients, “As a practicing pediatrician in North Carolina, I have seen the value of using the toolkits provided by Blue Cross. I find it helpful in opening conversations on the difficult subject of childhood obesity and diabetes. Quality tools like this are extremely helpful to physicians and families in encouraging healthy lifestyles."
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in the last two decades type 2 diabetes (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes) has been reported among U.S. children and adolescents with increasing frequency. One in three U.S. children born in 2000 could develop diabetes during their lifetime and the prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11 more than doubled in the past 20 years, going from 6.5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2006.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina has pioneered a wide variety of programs in our community focusing on healthy lifestyles dating back to 1999. Healthy Lifestyle Choices, a lifestyle modification program, provided customers with tools and support to achieve and maintain healthy weight. In 2005, BCBSNC became one of the first insurers to classify obesity as a medical condition and cover nutritionist visits. Since 2007, the company developed model toolkits to help families exercise regularly and take charge of managing their overall health and well-being.
A just-released compendium – Commitment to the Next Generation of Healthy Americans – details how Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and other Blue companies are leveraging local partnerships to build, design and support programs that target obesity and diabetes prevention.
To view the Good Health Club Physician Toolkit and for more information about what the Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are doing in their communities to combat childhood obesity and diabetes, please visit bcbs.com/goodhealthclub.
About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is a leader in delivering innovative health care products, services and information to more than 3.7 million members, including approximately 900,000 served on behalf of other Blue Plans. For 77 years, the company has served its customers by offering health insurance at a competitive price and has served the people of North Carolina through support of community organizations, programs and events that promote good health. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Access BCBSNC online at bcbsnc.com.
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