About Us

Helping to prevent childhood obesity

It is estimated that nearly 20% of children and teens in the US are obese or at risk for obesity. Chicago children are at an increased risk with several neighborhoods having obesity rates that are 3 times the national average.

To promote healthy and active lifestyles, communities across the country are searching for effective strategies, tactics, and resources to prevent obesity.

Two respected Chicago organizations fighting the spread of childhood obesity in the city—the Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago Children (CLOCC) and Communities in Schools of Chicago (CISC)—have joined together to create a model health program to fight childhood obesity: Healthy Foods, Healthy Moves: InForm Chicago.

The cornerstone of the program is the simple message: 5-4-3-2-1 Go!™

Reaching children in their community
To educate children and their families about 5-4-3-2-1 Go!, the Go Team was created. Comprised of 12 teen health ambassadors who serve as role models, the Go Team visits schools and community locations around the city to spread the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! message to young children and their families. They lead children in games that teach one or more components of the message and reinforce these activities by distributing free water bottles, refrigerator magnets, and other items that will remind kids and families of the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! message. Throughout the next two years, the program plans to recruit more ambassadors to join the Go Team, which will visit more than 150 community locations and events in Chicago communities.

Reaching children in their schools
School staff and community-service organizations are being trained by CISC and CLOCC to support the 5-4-3-2-1 Go! message. This training provides schools with the knowledge and tools they need to fight obesity in the classroom. Chicago school administrators and faculty are learning how to raise awareness about the social and academic impact of poor health in their schools. Through strategic outreach, CISC is connecting students to high-quality programs and services at no cost to schools or students.

National conference
Looking ahead to the third year of the program, CLOCC and CISC will host a national conference on October 2 – 3, 2008, that will focus on promoting healthy lifestyle messages to schools and communities. Attendees from across the country will receive data, strategies, and best practices gleaned from the Chicago implementation of the project so that they can replicate successful program elements. CLOCC and CISC will identify cities best equipped to replicate program successes and assist them in implementing a childhood obesity prevention program in their city.