Nutrition and Physical Activity

Obesity within the next 10 years is expected to overtake tobacco as the major cause of preventable death in the United States. The debilitating physical and social effects of obesity are seen at all ages, but they are most alarming when they strike children. KHI researchers and journalists work to describe the implications for social, financial and health care systems and to highlight the most promising means of obesity prevention.

Roberts' proposal to cut SNAP fails in U.S. Senate

Kansas senator says measure was needed to close loopholes in the food stamp program

0 | Congress, Nutrition

During debate on the Farm Bill, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts unsuccessfully proposed reducing food stamp spending by 4 percent. The Kansas Republican's motion failed, 40-58, in the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate.

Policy and Research

Kansans Not Following Nutrition Guidelines: Findings from the Kansas Health and Nutrition Survey

0 | Mar. 02, 2010 | Nutrition

A look at how well Kansans’ nutritional intake conforms to the national recommended dietary guidelines.

Obesity Prevalence and Risk Factors Among Racial and Ethnic Minorities in Kansas

0 | Nov. 08, 2006 | Community Health, Nutrition

A new statewide survey shows that racial and ethnic minorities in Kansas, particularly blacks and Hispanics, are more likely than their white counterparts, to be overweight or obese.

Kansas Public School Health: Nutrition, Physical Education and Physical Activity Policies and Practices

0 | Nov. 01, 2006 | Child Health, Nutrition

The growing awareness of the social and medical impact of overweight and obesity has encouraged the development of local, state and federal initiatives. These efforts are particularly important when they target youth, because eating and activity patterns established in childhood have been shown to carry into adulthood. To better understand the health environment for Kansas youth, this study examined key policies and practices that affect public school children across the state.

Obesity and Public Policy: A Framework for Intervention

0 | Oct. 18, 2006 | Nutrition, Obesity

Obesity is recognized as a public health problem, but has it also become a public policy problem that demands the attention of policymakers?

Is Obesity a Public Policy Problem?

0 | Aug. 01, 2004 | Nutrition

The epidemic of obesity is one of the greatest risks to Americans' health. Public health experts have projected that 500,000 Americans will die from diseases associated with obesity in 2005.

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News

Foundation awards more than $2M for healthy diet initiative

0 | May. 29, 2013 | Foundations, Nutrition

Five organizations will receive up to $450,000 over three years to advance four goals: Increase consumption of healthy foods, increase consumption of water, reduce overconsumption of sugary drinks, and support health-promoting food and beverage retailing and distribution policies.

Roberts' proposal to cut SNAP fails in U.S. Senate

0 | May. 21, 2013 | Congress, Nutrition

During debate on the Farm Bill, U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts unsuccessfully proposed reducing food stamp spending by 4 percent. The Kansas Republican's motion failed, 40-58, in the Democratically controlled U.S. Senate.

County Meals on Wheels program aims to prevent hospital readmissions

0 | Apr. 18, 2013 | Hospitals, Nutrition, Prevention

Officials at Johnson County Meals on Wheels say they are hoping the program can become a national model for preventing hospital readmissions among senior citizens.

Animated map shows country growing fatter each year

0 | Apr. 18, 2013 | Community Health, Obesity

This animated map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows the country as a whole growing much fatter between 1985 and 2010.

Kansas Health Foundation to support local Food Policy Councils

0 | Jan. 31, 2013 | Advocacy, Foundations, Nutrition

Foundation offers grants to promote Food Policy councils to encourage healthy eating.

Budget earmark for reading program raises questions

0 | Jun. 17, 2013 | Budget, Children, Legislature

A late, largely unnoticed addition to the budget bill that was approved in the final days of this year’s legislative session appears to be a boon for a Kansas company that sells access to a computer program intended to help elementary students learn to read.

Regional HHS director meets with Kansas health consumer advocates

0 | Jun. 14, 2013 | Advocacy, Health Reform

The regional director for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services met with representatives of about 10 Kansas health consumer groups to discuss implementation of the Affordable Care Act. "It will be ready. It will happen," said administrator Stephene Moore of the Oct. 1 launch date for the ACA insurance marketplace.

DCF picks child support enforcement contractors

0 | Jun. 14, 2013 | Children, Agencies

Expanded privatization, according to officials at the Kansas Department for Children and Families, could increase child support collections by $52 million over a three-year period.

Kansas City among sites included in national mental health initiative

0 | Jun. 18, 2013 | Mental Health

As part of a high-profile White House initiative, the metropolitan area is among a handful of communities around the country expected to gather hundreds of people for a meeting about mental illness within the next few months.

Mental health grants available

0 | Jun. 18, 2013 | Foundations, Mental Health

The Tower Mental Health Foundation is soliciting grant applications for projects and activities that support mental health services in Kansas.

Sorting out the changes in Home Plus

0 | May. 31, 2011 | KDoA, Legislature, Health Care Delivery

A little-noticed new law could mean significant changes in the way care is provided to elderly Kansans and in the process could transform what quite literally has been a cottage industry.

Kansas insurance officials hope to give federal insurance exchange a local flavor

1 | Jun. 18, 2013 | Health Reform, Insurance

Kansas is among the states where federal officials will run the new health insurance exchanges but the state’s top insurance regulators said they hope to inject a local flavor. Insurance Commissioner Sandy Praeger said her agency has been in discussion with the feds about having some of the more complex calls to the exchange’s toll-free helpline roll over to her department so that Kansas consumers come in touch quickly with local people more familiar with the Kansas insurance plans offered in the exchange and the governing regulations.

Administration announces website to encourage exercise

1 | Jun. 07, 2013 | KDHE

The governor and state health officer announced a coming online exercise program designed to encourage Kansans to exercise more, and state workers who do so can earn insurance premium discounts.

Obamacare a concern for school districts, particularly rural ones

2 | Jun. 10, 2013 | Community Health, Health Reform, Insurance

School administrators at small, rural districts around the state say they are alarmed and confounded by the looming, new costs they face with the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Senator plans foster care reform initiative

3 | Jun. 04, 2013 | Children, Agencies, Legislature

A state senator who has adopted four boys out of foster care said he’s putting together a plan for reforming the state’s foster care and adoption programs. “There need to be changes in every single part of the system,” said Sen. Forrest Knox, an Altoona Republican.

State officials submit first quarterly KanCare report to feds

2 | Jun. 07, 2013 | KanCare, Medicaid-CHIP

Kansas officials this week made public their first quarterly report to federal authorities on the progress of KanCare, Gov. Sam Brownback's initiative to move virtually all the state's Medicaid enrollees into privately run managed care plans.

House speaker pleased with KanCare but doesn't want Medicaid expansion

2 | Apr. 01, 2013 | Legislature, Medicaid-CHIP

Prominent politicians born in log cabins weren’t that common even in the old days. Before House Speaker Ray Merrick came along, Kansas hadn’t had one since Charles Curtis, the long-time U.S. senator who went on to become vice president under Herbert Hoover.

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