Committees

The Action on Obesity Task Force formed four committees corresponding to the four areas of influence in the bidirectional target model.

1. The Strategic Planning Committee

   This group outlined a strategic plan for the Action on Obesity task force including the Health Promotion at Mayo Initiative within Mayo Clinic. A Health Promotion Committee has been formed at Mayo Clinic and is chaired by Dr. Donald Hensrud. The administrative secretary is Mr. James Yolch. The HPI at Mayo committee provides a unifying structure for Action on Obesity, CardiVision 2020, Employee Health, the Nicotine Dependency Center, etc. The strategic plan focuses on Mayo Clinic Rochester, the Mayo Health System, and surrounding communities.

2. The Individual and Health Care Provider Committee
   (Within Mayo Committee)

   This group focuses on the health of Mayo Clinic employees and seeks ways to increase healthy food choices and physical activity options on campus. The group has reviewed current nutrition and activity program and is educating and motivating employees to assume responsibility for healthy nutrition/activity choices and patterns on campus; and to develop new cost-effective programs.

   The group is working on recommendations to:

   • Improve nutrition and encouraged increased physical activity.
   • Educate employees about their health, using group classes when appropriate.
   • Avoid duplication. Programs will be improved through collaboration, and improvement will be documented via outcomes-based research.

   This group has made major changes to the health promotion culture are Mayo. For example, many changes have been made to box lunches and cafeteria choices. Physical activity is promoted with trail maps of the subway and skyway systems, availability of pedometers for patients, and signage that is forthcoming.

3. The Olmsted County/Minnesota Committee

   This committee is working to apply aspects of the Action on Obesity Summit action plan to Olmsted County. The county plan presented to the community at a town hall meeting October 5, 2004, and two follow-up meetings have been held. An activities calendar is being maintained.

4. National Summit Planning Committee

   This committee is the driving force behind the Action on Obesity Summits. The first Summit held at Mayo Clinic on May 21, 2004, drew national, state and local health care organizations, food industry representatives, and public health, education, and community leaders together to collectively develop a plan to decrease obesity.