March 2012 - Parks & Recreation - 20

Who, What, Where & how Around the Parks

P ROFI L E

Obesity Researcher Heidi Blanck
A national epidemic calls for local solutions

n the 1990s, the U.S. Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) began tracking the rise
of adult obesity by state in the
United States and the map that
resulted from that data is as frightening
as it is illuminating. The map on the CDC
website quantifies the rapid transformation of the country as obesity incidences

problem. Blanck began her career in nutrition from a background in molecular
biology-and, over time, became fascinated by (and earned a doctorate in) the
behavioral and environmental aspects of
nutrition. " I wanted to understand people's relationships with food and places
where eating occurs, " she says, " not just
the molecular science of nutrition. "

" are the ones who assess and send out information on acute epidemics. The chronic diseases [like obesity] haven't always
received the attention. " Therefore, Blanck
has been eager for chances to partner
with the agencies and institutions (such as
schools, child care, worksites, and parks)
that serve a broad cross-section of the
public. The goal is to apply obesity pre-

Whether a park visitor is in
the park for an afternoon
or a family vacation, parks
can take leadership in
promoting healthy eating.
-Heidi Blanck

spread like a disease. In 1990, a serene
sea of blue depicts obesity rates below 19
percent coast to coast. Steadily, year by
year, the map morphs into a garish 2010
patchwork of tan, orange, and dark red-
tracing the state-by-state chronology of
our national obesity epidemic.
Dr. Heidi Blanck, Chief of Obesity Prevention and Control at the CDC, is part of
the division that tracks and presents the
hard data of America's worsening obesity

Parks & Recreation M A R C H

Blanck and her staff study the environments and settings in which nutrition choices are made-physical, social,
and psychological-and strategize how
to " make the healthy choice the easy
choice. " It is an approach that recognizes
not only the aggregate public health impact of individuals' choices-but also the
opportunities afforded or denied by the
built and cultural environments.
" We, the folks at CDC, " Blanck adds,

2 0 1 2 w w w . N R P A . O R G

vention research-and to adapt some of
the tools CDC has developed-to improve
Americans' access to good nutrition.
A recent " epi-aid " (epidemic assistance) request from the Department of
the Interior has given Blanck and her staff
an unprecedented opportunity to assess
the nutrition and drinking water options
available in national parks. The request
has resulted in pilot and national evaluation that can have significant bearing on
food and beverage offerings made available by park agencies at all jurisdictional levels.
Whether a park visitor is in the park for
an afternoon or a family vacation, parks
can take leadership in promoting healthy
eating, Blanck says. And the changes
she and her team recommend involve
more creative thinking than financial
investment.
Inviting concessionaires and vending
machine suppliers into brainstorming
sessions can lead to cost-neutral improvements, Blanck says. She cites recent discussions with vendors to consider

March 2012 - Parks & Recreation

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