Arlington Selected as Pilot Community for Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 Childhood Obesity Program

  • May 23, 2013

Free Screening to Enroll Area Children Available at Arlington Medical Center

"Let's Go" logo

Arlington, SD, has been selected by Brookings Health System as a pilot community to implement the Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 childhood obesity program.

“The epidemic of overweight and obese youth continues to have major implications for the health of the entire population, from infants and young children to adults,” said Brookings Health System’s Chief Nursing Officer Tammy Hillestad. “The Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 program takes a multi-faceted approach, understanding there are multiple factors to the epidemic. It focuses on instilling healthy behaviors in all children, not targeting or singling out overweight or obese youth.”

Let’s Go! helps kids and families eat healthy and be active. It is designed to increase healthy eating and active living in children from birth to 18. Let’s Go! works in six settings (healthcare, schools, early childhood, after school, workplace, and community) to reach children and families where they live, study, work and play. The program centers on the common message of “5-2-1-0”:

5 – fruit and vegetable servings every day

2 – hours or less of recreation screen time every day

1 – hour or more of physical activity every day

0 – sugary drinks, more water and low-fat milk

The nationally recognized childhood obesity prevention program is being implemented as a partnership between Brookings Health System and SDSU College of Nursing doctoral candidate Jo Gibson, a certified nurse practitioner with extensive nursing experience in the local area. It is partially funded by Brookings Health System Foundation.

Tonya Froehlich, CNP at Arlington Medical Center, will use the program tools for accurate diagnosis of overweight and obesity, for assessment and evaluation of the child’s lifestyle behaviors, and for guidance on developing a mutually established action plan for the child. Educational tools will be provided to children to address childhood obesity and guide youth and their families to healthier eating and increased physical activities.

Screening at Arlington Medical Center is the first step to enroll children in the program. A free, 15 minute screening appointment assesses:

  • Height
  • Weight
  • BMI
  • Blood Pressure
  • Heart
  • Lungs

Each screening concludes with a short consultation to set a challenge goal on a 5-2-1-0 area to work on improving.

All Arlington area children, ages 2 to 18, are eligible for the free screening and to enroll in the program. A Let’s Go! 5-2-1-0 kickoff celebration, including inflatables and other activities, will be held on June 27 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the City Park for all children enrolled in the program.

To setup a free 15 minute screening appointment or for more information on the program, call Arlington Medical Center at (605) 983-3283.

About Brookings Health System

Brookings Health System, located in Brookings, South Dakota, includes a 49-bed hospital, the 79-bed Brookview Manor nursing home, and Brookhaven Estates apartments. It is a non-profit, city-owned facility that offers the community a full range of inpatient, outpatient, and extended care services. The emergency room is staffed 24 hours a day and provides around the clock medical-nursing care for patient needs ranging from minor injuries to life threatening crises. For more information about the services offered at Brookings Health System, please call (605) 696-9000 or visit us on the Web at brookingshealth.org.