Obesity Prevention

Online weight loss program is effective way to reach rural populations, study shows
URBANA, Ill. — People living in rural areas are at greater risk for obesity than the general population, and they often have limited access to healthy, affordable food, physical activity facilities, public transportation, and healthcare institutions. Weight loss interventions are more successful...

Head Start staff invited to learn about BMI measurement, communication best practices
URBANA, Ill. — Every year, Head Start programs collect children’s body mass index data and communicate results to families to address childhood obesity in enrolled children. In a recently published research article, Head Start staff across the country shared that there is a lack of guidance on...

Abriendo Caminos ‘Opening Pathways’: Pioneering Extension initiative receives nationwide recognition
URBANA, Ill. — In Illinois, a committed group of researchers and educators confronted a sobering truth: Latino children were experiencing notable health inequalities, especially evident in the high rates of childhood obesity. This concerning pattern not only jeopardized their current health but...

Extension’s Abriendo Caminos program helps Hispanic families prevent childhood obesity
URBANA, Ill. — University of Illinois Extension, in collaboration with other institutions and partners, has published a research article on the benefits of Abriendo Caminos, a family-based intervention program that...