Skip directly to search, navigation, content
Indiana University Bloomington
Preventing disease, promoting wellness, improving quality of life
HPER
Site Index | 
School of Health, Physical Education, and Recreation
HPER Home

Features

Man enjoying an ice cream sundae

Americorps Grant Will Tackle Obesity

HPER's Department of Applied Health Science will help implement the Indiana Obesity Prevention Program

The Department of Applied Health Science has received a grant entitled "AmeriCorps Improving Health Throughout Indiana” from AmeriCorps Indiana. Often called the “domestic Peace Corps,” AmeriCorps works at the local, state and national levels to improve the lives of American citizens.

With 62% of adults in Indiana classified as overweight or obese, the grant was provided to help the Indiana State Department of Health and IU Bloomington jointly implement  the Indiana Obesity Prevention Program (INOPP).  As part of Governor Mitch Daniels In-Shape Indiana, funding was provided by the Governor's Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives.

The grant allows 75 AmeriCorps members, 36 in Bloomington and 39 in Indianapolis, to work with a wide variety of agencies to help Hoosiers reduce obesity, and consequent serious medical problems and exorbitant costs to treat them.  Drs. Lloyd Kolbe and Mohammad Torabi are Co-Principal Investigators for the grant; Dr. Kolbe also serves as Director, and Ms. Erin Cooperman, J.D. serves as the Grant Coordinator. The budget approaches $400,000 each year for a three-year period. The program will incorporate the goals set forth by AmeriCorps and INOPP. .The primary goals of the program are to improve nutrition and physical activity as a means to reduce obesity.

Monroe County is one of the 200 poorest counties in the United States. The Bloomington-based program hopes to improve nutrition especially for low income families and for children. Senior citizens also will be given the chance to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables with vouchers. Since April, the program has provided support for organizations such as Stepping Stones, Bloomington Hospital, Bloomington Parks and Recreation and the Boys and Girls Club of America. “AmeriCorps Improving Health Throughout Indiana” will function at the state and community levels to decrease obesity and increase physical activity for all Hoosiers. HPER’s Department of Applied Health Science is proud to be in the vanguard of this initiative, and to have the opportunity to work with many caring and committed partners across the State of Indiana.

Next Feature: GSAC Raises Money for Big Brothers Big Sisters >>