Program to Curb Childhood Obesity Garners Prevention Award

CATCH draws national attention for program promoting physical activity, healthy food

A University of Texas School of Public Health program that successfully tackles childhood obesity has received a prestigious 2006 Secretary's Innovation in Prevention Award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Steven H. Kelder, Ph.D., left, and Deanna M. Hoelscher, Ph.D., with Rear Admiral Kenneth Moritsugu, M.D., acting U.S. Surgeon General, who presented an Innovation in Prevention award.

The program, CATCH (Coordinated Approach To Child Health), part of the school's Michael & Susan Dell Center for Advancement of Healthy Living, is a school-based effort promoting physical activity, healthy food choices and tobacco prevention in elementary age children. CATCH reaches approximately 900,000 children in 1,911 elementary schools across Texas.

The award was presented Oct. 26 at the "National Prevention Summit: Prevention, Preparedness and Promotion" luncheon in Washington, D.C. Steven H. Kelder, Ph.D., co-principal investigator of CATCH and professor of epidemiology and behavioral sciences at the School of Public Health, accepted the award on behalf of the program.

"CATCH is an example of how health education for children can be interesting, sustainable and highly effective," said HHS Secretary Mike Leavitt. "Their comprehensive approach to teaching and increasing general childhood health on this scale is a blueprint for success."

" The honor recognizes that CATCH has taken research and translated that into a proven program in communities across Texas."

The award is part of "STEPS to a Healthier US," an HHS initiative that advances President George Bush's goal of helping children live longer, better and healthier lives. It celebrates outstanding organizations that have implemented innovative and creative chronic disease prevention and health promotion programs.

"The honor recognizes that CATCH has taken research and translated that into a proven program in communities across Texas," said Deanna M. Hoelscher, Ph.D., director of the Dell Center for Healthy Living and associate professor of health promotion/behavioral sciences and nutrition in the School of Public Health.

The CATCH program is the largest school-based health promotion study ever funded in the United States (through the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute).

A launch of the CATCH program is currently underway in Travis County with funding from the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation.

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