OCMS to address childhood obesity in Southfield schools With childhood obesity reaching epidemic levels in the United States, the Oakland County Medical Society will be partnering with the Southfield Public Schools to bring the

CHIPs a fun and participatory, activity based program that emphasizes exercise and nutrition based upon the premise that the adult in each household must take responsibility for the child's personal success in adopting healthy choices. The program was created by OCMS member Paul Ehrmann, DO, a family practice physician in Royal Oak. After years of treating families and seeing the increase in childhood obesity, Dr. Ehrmann decided something has to be done about it. In February of 2004, he presented his vision to 20 Oakland County education representatives. From that meeting, emerged a five-week CHIP pilot program, for 30 students and their parents in Royal Oak, designed to actively demonstrate the most basic and important lifestyle practices and illustrate the long-term benefits of weight management and exercise. The Royal Oak Pilot program was done in February 2005.

Since eating and health habits are primarily established in childhood, CHIP involves 3rd to 5th grade students under the supervision and along with the participation of their parents. The CHIP model, as created by Dr. Ehrmann, can easily be replicated in any community with a motivated team of individuals.

Each week of the program has a separate, but complementing focus, dealing with exercise and nutrition. Participants hear from personal trainers, dietitians and healthcare professionals on how to live a healthy lifestyle.

For the 2005-2006 School year, OCMS will be offering two CHIP sessions, one in the fall and the other in the spring, in Southfield reaching a total of 60 students and their parents. The program is funded through a grant from the Michigan State Medial Society Foundation. OCMS would like to thank the MSMS Foundation for their support in this endeavor.

CHIP has received letters of support from Royal Oak Schools Superintendent Thomas Shorkey; Senator Gilda Jacobs; Southfield Mayor Brenda Lawrence; Representative Paul Condino; and Michigan Surgeon General Kimberlydawn Wisdom, MD. For more information on CHIP, visit the outreach section of the OCMS website at http://www.ocms-mi.org.