Action Plans

Below are action items developed at the first Action on Obesity Summit on May 21, 2004. Many ideas are being evaluated for implementation.

Within Mayo/Worksite Recommendations
Recommendations for Olmsted County and the Surrounding Area
Other Recommendations

Within Mayo/Worksite Recommendations

The Mayo Clinic Board of Governors approved the Action on Obesity Action Plan on June 24, 2004. Various work groups are addressing detailed plans and proposals. Activities include:

• Develop and implement a multifaceted employee communications plan that could include: promoting education opportunities on nutrition and fitness; regular publication of education articles; ways to celebrate successes; and ways to share best practices.
• Ensure that nutritious food choices and correct portion sizes are available throughout the campus (cafeterias, express eating areas, vending, and catered meals). Label food choices with calorie and fat content and how many minutes of walking are required to burn the calories.
• Encourage commercial food and drink vendors on or near the Mayo campus to offer healthful foods.
• Find ways to make walking more appealing, such as
  • Distribute information or post signs with mileage, time, and calories burned through underground walkway and skyway systems
  • Provide maps of inside and outside walking routes
  • Research a partnership with the America on the Move program, a walking program designed to stop the current average weight gain of one to three pounds per year.
  • Encourage department/division/or other workplace competitions related to activity and nutrition.
• Support activities promoted by CardioVision 2020 and other health/fitness activities promoted in our communities.
• Develop group nutrition/activity classes for employees trying to lose weight. This collaborative program between Dietetics/Endocrinology and Dan Abraham Healthy Living Center, an on-campus fitness center, would provide interactive education on nutrition, activity, and lifestyle changes.
• Modify and merge existing programs to avoid duplication.

Recommendations for Olmsted County and the Surrounding Area

• Plan and conduct the Oct. 5, 2004, town hall meeting hosted with partners including Olmsted County Public Health Department, the Rochester public and parochial schools, IBM, Rochester Chamber of Commerce, etc.
• Incorporate summit action items into the community program. Likely options include:
  • Incorporate nutrition strategies to prevent and treat obesity (page 21, Summit Proceedings, Appendix I).
  • Launch America on the Move walking program (page 24, Summit Proceedings, Appendix I).
  • Increase outreach into Hispanic and Somali communities and other ethnic groups.
  • Support CardioVision 2020, a community health initiative that seeks to improve the heart health of all Olmsted County residents. Its goal is to promote a smoke-free environment, heart-healthy nutrition habits and a physically active lifestyle for all children and adults living in Olmsted County.
  • Ensure consideration is given to "Baby, It's Cold Outside" by Dr. A. Smith (page 25, Summit Proceedings, Appendix I)
  • Support free unstructured play at area parks as an alternative to organized sports (page 20, Summit Proceedings, Appendix I).
  • Incorporate feedback from city planning and zoning officials to help increase physical activity. For example, future construction around Mayo Clinic should consider bike routes.
  • Introduce Americans on the Move walking program into Rochester schools.
  • Work to enhance middle school nutrition and fitness curriculum.

Other Post Summit Action on Obesity Task Force Recommendations

The committees are working to implement the action plans within Mayo Clinic and in the community.

• Teleconferences are being arranged between delegates.
• A Web site, www.actiononobesity.org, will update readers on activities, teleconferences, progress, other links, etc.
• Action items that were submitted, printed or presented are being reviewed. Many have been selected for implementation into the worksite and community programs.
• Two articles are being written for Mayo Clinic Proceedings about the Action on Obesity process and the summit.