2009 Community Health Leaders Award For Work To Reduce Obesity

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Diabetes;  Heart Disease;  Public Health
Article Date: 09 Oct 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) has announced its selection of Rajiv Kumar, founder and chairman of Shape Up RI and a medical student at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, to receive a Community Health Leaders Award. He is one of 10 extraordinary Americans who received the RWJF honor for 2009 at a ceremony at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C.

Kumar is being honored for his efforts to reduce obesity among Rhode Island residents through exercise and healthy eating. In 2005, he established Shape Up RI (http://www.shapeupri.org), a community organization that brings Rhode Islanders together within their trusted social network to reduce obesity through exercise and healthy eating. "This is an incredible honor, but it is one I share with everyone who helped make Shape Up RI a reality and all of the participants who have taken the challenge and succeeded," said Kumar. "Together we are moving in the right direction. When eating healthily and regular exercise become part of our daily lifestyle, we will begin to see the epidemics of diabetes, heart disease and other obesity-related chronic diseases reverse."

Shape Up RI allows participants to invite their friends, family members and colleagues to eat healthily, lose weight or exercise together. The self-directed program costs only $20 a year. In 8- or 12-week challenges, participants compete on teams and track their weight, exercise hours and/or pedometer steps. "We don't tell people what to do in our program; they figure it out for themselves. We simply give them the opportunity, structure and support they need to adopt healthy behaviors," Kumar said.

Over the past four years, 35,000 Rhode Islanders have participated in this successful program. Participants have lost thousands of pounds, walked millions of miles, and proved that teamwork is a powerful prescription for taking control of their health.

"Rajiv Kumar is addressing one of the nation's major public health problems: obesity," said Janice Ford Griffin, national program director for the award. "As a medical student, he didn't just listen to lectures about the need for prevention as a way to reduce obesity, diabetes and heart disease; he created a solution to the problem."

Mary M. Flynn, who teaches nutrition at the Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University and serves on the board of Shape Up RI, said that Mr. Kumar's greatest accomplishment is changing how people view physical activity. "He has made it accessible, easily translatable and fun. He makes people want to increase their physical activity," Flynn said.

The Community Health Leaders Award honors exceptional men and women from all over the country who overcome significant obstacles to tackle some of the most challenging health and health care problems facing their communities and the nation. The award elevates the work of the leaders by raising awareness of their extraordinary contributions through national visibility, a $125,000 award and networking opportunities. This year the Foundation received 532 nominations from across the United States and selected 10 outstanding individuals who have worked to improve health conditions in their communities with exceptional creativity, courage and commitment.

Source:
Jennifer Combs
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Community Health Leaders