| Publications :: | Associate
Professor of Pediatrics General Pediatrics 
The growing obesity epidemic in America threatens the health of children,
placing them at risk for a variety of chronic diseases. Genetic predisposition
to type 2 diabetes coupled with obesity has been found to produce
type 2 diabetes in Mexican-American children. As the Hispanic population
in the mid-south is currently growing rapidly, childhood obesity has
emerged as an area of concern in this population. During the first
year of our study, we measured the prevalence of risk of overweight
among Hispanics aged 4 - 12 in Memphis and Shelby County. During the
second year we developed, implemented, and evaluated a culturally
sensitive group intervention for Hispanic children to reduce overweight
and thereby reduce their risk of obesity and associated health problems.
During the third and fourth years we applied the principles learned
and opened a “wall-less health club” for Hispanic families.
In the last two years with this program, over 300 Hispanic families
have exercised and learned about nutrition. We offer soccer, Mexican
dancing, aerobics, karate, swimming, basketball and walking activities
three times per week. Weekly nutrition and life-style classes are
offered. Relative body mass index (BMI) is followed on the participants
and a control group is also followed for comparison. Active participants
show decreases in average relative BMI, and the control group shows
gains. |
| Beeman
G, Cooper G, Doyle K: Faculty development on-going and college-wide.
Academic Medicine 71:565, 1996. Levy M, Heffner B, Stewart T, Beeman G. The efficacy of asthma case management in reducing school absences and hospitalizations in an urban school district. J School Health 76:1746-1561, 2006. |