Obesity Prevention
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Like most of the nation, one of the leading concerns facing Hoosiers is the alarming rise of obesity in our communities. Almost 29 percent of children and 65 percent of adults are overweight or obese, exposing them to increased risk factors for a series of deadly and disabling complications. Nationally, Indiana ranks fifteenth in the percentage of obese adult populations in the United States.
Indiana University Health is committed to launching innovative efforts aimed at attacking obesity in our communities.
IU Health's Obesity Prevention Efforts
Garden on the Go
As the cornerstone of IU Health's obesity prevention strategy, Garden on the Go is a year-round mobile produce delivery program, in partnership with Green B.E.A.N. Delivery, that aims to increase access to affordable, fresh fruits and vegetables for Indianapolis' most disadvantaged and underserved residents.
Learn more about Garden on the Go >>
2011 Day of Service
More than 1,600 IU Health employees joined the fight against childhood obesity during the third annual Day of Service. Community assets left behind focused on increasing access to safe, challenging places to play and included three KaBOOM! playgrounds, 12 enhanced playgrounds and 5 school gardens.
Learn about IU Health's 2011 Day of Service >>
Indy Urban Acres
Indy Urban Acres is an 8-acre organic urban farm that supplies low-income Hoosiers with healthy fruits and vegetables. The urban farm was developed in partnership with IU Health, the Indianapolis Parks Foundation and the Indianapolis Parks Department. Produce grown at the site directly benefits Gleaners Food Bank, while the farm itself serves as an educational resource for user groups, community organizations and the Indy Parks Department.
IU Health Bucks Pilot
IU Health Bucks is an incentive program designed to increase produce consumption among underserved populations using state-issued Farmers Market Vouchers. Participants who spent their state-issued vouchers at the North United Methodist Church Farmers’ Market in Indianapolis received additional IU Health "Market Money" to spend on produce. 233 low-income families participated in the pilot program, spending $3,500 on healthy, local produce.
Riley School Gardens
In an effort to increase access to healthy fruits and vegetables and promote early nutrition education for youth, IU Health partnered with Keep Indianapolis Beautiful to build ten Riley School Gardens at targeted schools within Indianapolis Public Schools.Over 2,000 elementary students were educated on how to grow, maintain, and harvest their own vegetables and now have hands-on experience. Schools planted a summer crop including tomatoes, eggplant, zucchini, cucumbers as well as a fall crop including lettuce, spinach, greens, and radishes.