This past Thursday at the Red Stick Farmers Market in Baton Rouge, shoppers browsed the produce stands, local vendors showcased their products, and families enjoyed the warm weather—and right in the heart of all the activity, Pennington Biomedical Research Center held a press conference that could change the future of children’s health in Louisiana.
They were there to announce Greaux Healthy, a new statewide initiative that’s aiming to fight childhood obesity. Pennington Biomedical’s Executive Director Dr. John Kirwan kicked off the press conference noting the significance of this project:
“This is a new chapter in Pennington Biomedical’s long and proud history of scientific excellence and public service for Louisiana residents. Pennington Biomedical has led research creating solutions from selves to society. This Greaux Healthy program exemplifies that mission. This is a bold effort, powered by more than 35 years and rooted in deep research and our belief that every child in Louisiana deserves a healthy start.”
And that need is urgent. Louisiana has one of the highest childhood obesity rates in the country. Bruce Greenstein, Secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, says the problem goes far beyond physical health and classifies this crisis as a community concern.
“Childhood obesity, as you know, is not just a health issue. It’s a community issue. It can lead to health conditions that last a lifetime. It can impact families for generations, placing burdens on mental and physical health, and even their academic and financial success. Right now, nearly one in three children in Louisiana are living with obesity or are overweight. That’s not sustainable—and for us, it’s not acceptable.”
Despite having top-tier healthcare professionals and major research institutions in Louisiana, Greenstein says that not enough progress has been made in this area.
“Pennington is recognized as a national leader, even internationally recognized for the work they’re doing. We have some of the best clinicians and healthcare facilities in the country and our leaders in the legislature and across the schools say that they’re committed to fight against obesity. How come we haven’t made more progress in the last 15 years?”
Now, the Greaux Healthy initiative is designed to change that—with a multi-faceted approach that includes research, community outreach, and prevention strategies.
One of the biggest pieces of this puzzle is a new study called Pennington Generation. Dr. Amanda Staiano, Director of the Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Lab, announced its launch at the event.
“Today, I’m excited to announce the launch of the Pennington Generation: a new initiative partnering with 1500 families across the state of Louisiana. We will be studying physical activity, nutrition, sleep, and other factors, and how these influence children’s health.”
The data collected from Pennington Generation will help shape the way the state supports families and children going forward—through schools, healthcare systems, and local organizations.
And to reach families where they are, the Greaux Healthy team is taking their message on the road. Melissa Martin, Director of the Greaux Healthy program, says the public is already showing concern—and enthusiasm for change.
“A recent survey of Louisiana parents identified childhood obesity as the top health concern for children, surpassing smoking, mental health, and diabetes.”
“So now we’re hitting the road. We are pleased to announce that, beginning this month, our wonderful Healthy Moves bus will begin its tour across the state of Louisiana, hitting all of the regions. At each of these roadshow stops, as we’re calling it, we’ll connect with community, share the resources, and enroll families in Pennington Generation.”
Dr. Peter Katzmarzyk, Chief Scientific Officer for the program, says Greaux Healthy is about more than good intentions. It’s about using science—decades of research—and making it work in the real world to achieve lasting results outside of a lab.
“We’re tackling childhood obesity from the angles of both prevention and treatment—and what it comes down to is really translating the science, and disseminating it out into the community. This is a critical use of the, you know, the translation—the science and the translation in the public health spectrum, one that is often neglected. So we’re very, very proud to be bringing this 35 years of research now and translating it for public health in Louisiana.”
The Greaux Healthy team says this is just the beginning. As the Healthy Moves bus hits the road and families join the Pennington Generation study, they’re hoping to drive real change in children’s health across Louisiana. For more information on these new initiatives, you can visit greauxhealthy.org.
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