Carra Moroni, M. Ed., RD, LD
Regional Nutritionist 5425 Polk St, Suite J Houston, TX 77023 713-767-3483 Carra.Moroni@dshs.state.tx.us
Mission
The regional Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program (NPAOP) works to reduce the burden of death and disease related to overweight and obesity in Texas. Activities are based on the most current and proven public health strategies. The regional nutritionist partners with state and local organizations, groups and communities across the Region to promote science-based nutrition and physical activity interventions, policies and environmental changes to prevent and control obesity and overweight.
Vision
Healthy foods and an Active lifestyle are the easy choice throughout Health Service Region 6/5S (HSR 6/5S)
Goals
1: Improve the quality of life for residents of HSR 6/5S by addressing obesity as a public health issue
2: Create opportunities to choose lifestyles that promote healthy weight by mobilizing families, schools, and communities
3: Implement policies and environmental changes that support healthful eating physical activity
4: Decrease obesity rates through the dissemination of evidence-based practices.
Our Focus Areas
Balancing caloric intake and expenditure through:
- Increased physical activity
- Improved nutrition through increased breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity
- Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
- Decreased consumption of high energy-dense foods
- Decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
- Decreased screen/television time
• Decreased screen/television time
Why policy and environmental changes?
Traditionally, nutrition and physical activity strategies have been behavior-based, and have targeted individuals. The rise in overweight and obesity has occurred too quickly to blame individuals. Rather, the environment has become conducive to weight gain (busy schedules, larger portions, reliance on cars, unsafe neighborhoods).
It is inefficient to try and fix the overweight and obesity problem one person at a time. Rather, we need to make more widespread changes that can create an environment supportive of health weight.
“Many people believe that dealing with overweight and obesity is a personal responsibility. To some degree they are right, but it is also a community responsibility. When there are no safe, accessible places for children to play or adults to walk, jog or ride a bike, that is a community responsibility” – David Satcher, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001
Important Links
Statewide Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program The above link is http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/obesity/default.shtm The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity The above link is http://www.reversechildhoodobesity.org/
Resources (these are pdf files) Local Government Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity (pdf attachment 1) Action Strategies for Healthy Communities (pdf attachment 2) F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America 2009 Report (pdf attachment 3)