The American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) welcomes and applauds the effort of First Lady Michelle Obama, who announced a new campaign to combat childhood obesity today.
AACE and the American College of Endocrinology (ACE), have initiated a number of programs and activities that will complement her efforts. "First Lady Obama's actions will also help to increase public awareness about the College's efforts," AACE President Dr. Jeffrey R. Garber said.
ACE is the scientific arm of the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE), whose members specialize in endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism. An integral component in the ACE effort to combat obesity centers on the Power of Prevention®, a health awareness program designed to give people the best information on preventing endocrine and metabolic disorders through proper nutrition and physical activity.
A cornerstone of this program is the Power of Prevention® magazine; a 32-page, quarterly publication covering a variety of endocrine topics such as diabetes, thyroid dysfunction and obesity.
The latest issue of Power of Prevention® magazine focuses entirely on obesity and features a cover story with Julie Hadden, a former contestant on NBC's "The Biggest Loser." Hadden, who lost 97 pounds on the show, is now a stay-at-home mom raising two kids, and finds it challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
ACE is currently distributing 250,000 free copies of the magazine to the approximately 5,000 AACE endocrinologists in the United States. A free online copy of the obesity issue of the magazine can be downloaded at www.powerofprevention.com.
Several articles in the magazine focus on childhood obesity and the importance of eating a healthy meal in the school system, as well as the Power of Prevention® School Outreach Program.
Since 2004, ACE has partnered with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports to educate children about nutrition through the Power of Prevention® School Program and demonstrate the importance of physical activity through the President's Challenge.
Through the partnership with the President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, the Power of Prevention® School Program has reached more than 250,000 children in schools across the United States. The materials to continue bringing this message to schools are available for download at http://www.powerofprevention.com/download_all.php.
ACE also collaborated with the President's Council in 2006 to produce the Power of Prevention® Guide to Physical Activity. This manual analyzes the basics of physical activity for different age groups, and includes information about exercises, stretching and balance training techniques provided by the Council.
Power of Prevention® doesn't just taking aim at endocrine patients and children, but also at the nutritional decision makers of the household, with a new book scheduled to be released in Spring 2010: Power of Prevention®: The Complete Guide to Lifelong Nutrition.
"These decision makers make the food choices in the house, not just for themselves, but often for their children or their parents," Dr. Garber said. "Each one of these groups has particular nutritional needs, and all of those are addressed in the book."
Each chapter of the Power of Prevention®: The Complete Guide to Lifelong Nutrition is written by a certified endocrinologist with years of clinical experience from taking care of real patients with nutritional issues. Power of Prevention®: The Complete Guide to Lifelong Nutrition will be available for purchase from www.amazon.com.
"Through the Power of Prevention® program, we hope people will be armed with the knowledge to lead a healthier lifestyle and help prevent disease later in life," Dr. Garber said. "We offer our support to the First Lady in every possible way."
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