Cole targets child obesity
Auxiliary donates $30,000 to Pediatric Dept.

Elizabeth Staub (right), treasurer of the Charles Cole Memorial Hospital Auxiliary, presents a $30,000 check to Dr. Mary Ann Rigas and hospital CEO Edward Pitchford. The check represents proceeds from the recent Charles Cole Golf Classic and other fund-raising projects. The gift will help efforts to combat childhood obesity. The auxiliary's annual Golf Classic has provided more than $450,000 to the hospital since 1994.

Over the past decade, pediatricians serving Potter, Cameron and McKean counties have witnessed an increase in the number of children and adolescents who are overweight.

Spurred by these observations, Dr. Mary Ann Rigas and the Pediatric Department at Charles Cole Memorial Hospital are working to better prevent and treat childhood obesity in the region.

They first secured a Community Access to Child Health (CATCH) planning grant from the American Academy of Pediatrics. They also formed a task force that meets monthly. It's comprised of physicians and other health care practitioners, school professionals, and representatives from community agencies that serve children and their families.

"We have surveyed parents, health care practitioners, and school professionals in the area and have come to better understand the numerous factors that contribute to childhood obesity in our communities," Dr. Rigas said. "These include a trend toward increasing consumption of fast food, increasing time spent in electronic activities and less time spent in free play."

The task force hopes to establish a "comprehensive pediatric lifestyle management program" to help combat the problem of childhood obesity in the hospital's service area.

Members are also working on a Halloween Candy Exchange, offering children gifts and prizes in exchange for their candy.

The task force recently received a boost when the Cole Hospital Auxiliary donated $30,000 to support the cause.