A CSUN student works with a member of the community as part of 100 Citizens. Photo courtesy of Steven Loy.

California State University, Northridge’s Department of Kinesiology is teaming up with the health departments of Pasadena, Long Beach and Los Angeles County, and the American Diabetes Association, to host the first Southern California Diabetes Prevention Programs Summit on Friday, Sept. 20, at Recreation Park in San Fernando.

The summit is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to noon at the park at 208 Park Ave. in San Fernando. The event will throw the spotlight on CSUN’s innovative “100 Citizens” program, which was recognized by First Lady Michelle Obama at the White House earlier this year. The multi-generational physical activity program asks parents and grandparents to exercise and eat better, thereby teaching their children by example.

“With obesity on the rise and physical inactivity so high in the population, the risk for diabetes is also rising,” said CSUN kinesiology professor Steven Loy, one of the creators of the 100 Citizen Project.

Loy and a team of students spent more than a year working with San Fernando recreation officials to design a free, ongoing fitness program that would dispel the misconception that one has to join a fitness center or be a serious athlete to stay healthy.

In addition to the “100 Citizens” program, the symposium will discuss other diabetes prevention programs currently operating in Los Angeles County.

“The ultimate goal,” said Loy, “is to understand the populations at highest risk for diabetes and the number of people with pre-diabetes. And then, in turn, develop collaborative strategies for motivating individuals and their healthcare providers to invest in diabetes prevention seriously and take the steps necessary to reduce their risks for diabetes. We also want to identify additional resources or strategies to support and expand resources for diabetes prevention programs.

“You don’t have to have a lot of money or gimmicks to help people achieve healthier lifestyles: it’s as simple as creatively using the resources we already have,” he said

For more information, visit the website http://tinyurl.com/scdppsregister. To learn more about “100 Citizens,” you can view a short video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dp2pwZoElSs&feature=youtu.be.

College of Health and Human Development, Community