If it were left up to Caree Jackson, the obesity epidemic in the nation would be unheard of. A staunch advocate for healthy living, the nutritionist proselytizes, “It’s not just about a diet and exercising every now and then, but really to implement a lifestyle change.”
For the past year, Jackson has been working on obesity prevention in the early child care and education setting, a CDC children’s initiative. The campaign, Let’s Move Childcare, focuses on improving foods and beverage options for children while increasing physical activity and improving breast feeding and infant nutrition practices.
Jackson’s research will be published in an action guide for states that will provide how-to guidance on obesity prevention efforts in the childcare setting. “We are currently working with the providers who serve our youngest population, ages zero to 5-years-old, and parents; you really are going to see the effect later in life. By helping to form healthy habits right now, starting early, learning early, you can prevent so many things, particularly in the African American community. We need to focus on prevention and not fixing the problem,” explains the ORISE research fellow.
“I started my career on the community level when I graduated from Howard University. I worked with Baltimore Head Start and my focus was obesity prevention. Here at CDC, I am able to provide input on policy, which works well because I have an understanding from both sides. I am able to be a voice for the community and to convey to policymakers on the federal level, what works,” she shares.
Passionate about educating the community on nutrition, Jackson’s written a play, Little Red Riding Through the Hood and a catchy hip-hop song titled “What’s Best for Me.” “I use theater, dance and music to communicate messages. I really do a lot of mentoring and workshops and presentations for youth groups, churches and my interest has been to communicate this in a very innovative way,” she shares. –yvette caslin
