Health care champions advocate for initiatives and policies that support breastfeeding, healthy eating, active living, and healthy weight.

Sample Activities:

• Join/partner with ESMM Coalition and local coalitions.
• Encourage health care providers to serve as role models for healthy eating and active living.
• Respond to news stories providing health care provider perspective.
• Participate in the public policy process to highlight the need for community changes to improve eating and activity habits.
• Educate policy and decision makers and purchasers of major health care plans on the burden of obesity and obesity related chronic diseases to the health care system.
• Work with insurance companies to offer coverage for preventive services.

Tools:

Farm to Hospital: Supporting Local Agriculture and Improving Health Care

Physician Involvement in Community Action

Public Roles of U.S. Physicians: Community Participation, Political Involvement, and Collective Advocacy

Healthy Care for Healthy Kids Toolkit

Health Plans Emerging As Pragmatic Partners in Fight Against Obesity