100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future
WINNER: Popular Choice Award
“100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future” reflects what our collaborative group, City of San Fernando Partnership for Healthy Families believes; ending childhood obesity within a generation begins at home with the family. We have to work with the adults, the parents and grandparents to establish a healthier lifestyle so they can teach their children how to be physically active and eat healthier. Our children can’t do it on their own. There is no better way to have our adults understand than by being involved and feel the difference it makes in their lives. They become the role models. We do this through free physical activity programming and culturally appropriate nutrition demonstrations. It has worked. The 100 Citizens program, a fitness workout in the city’s public park, has run continuously since June 2011 with exercise stations staffed by Kinesiology student volunteers educated in the delivery and benefits of physical activity. The program now includes Zumba, body sculpting, seniors, and cycle spinning which the parks charge a small fee to help program expansion. HOWEVER, the basic fitness class always will be a popular free option. The Partnership resonates with the citizens because they understand the city cares to bring education and outside resources to help them live healthier lives and transmit this to their children. The public park is free and the activity is visible which is the best marketing … people moving, the class costs nothing and most importantly, the kids see adults having fun being active. 100 Citizens is contagious. 24 Hour Fitness donated 40 spinning bikes because they recognize the value being offered and wanted to make their contribution. 100 Citizens is replicable having spawned 4 more free 100 Citizens programs serving as role models for the future. They’re teaching their kids!

177 comments
Gennadiy Yeshu • almost 14 years ago
http://news.yahoo.com/no-end-obesity-epidemic-20-forecast-shows-194725214.html
Kristal Gordon • almost 14 years ago
I bet a lot of you are feeling a bit down right now...maybe even a little hopeless. I think of the Prader Willi group and they are a worthwhile organization that are fighting hard for their cause and I give them credit for that. I don't know that we are in the same type of race but we both have strong goals.
But I want everyone to think of how much WE HAVE ACCOMPLISHED and not give up. Today is the first day of Wellness on our own. No interns just us. They need to study for finals and finish their projects (Good luck!!).
What do we do??? I got ready, had my plan in place, and started with the run around campus. I didn't know if I could do it.
Immediately I saw some participants who encouraged me along the way. Then I saw strangers who also encouraged me. I kept running ( and those of you who ran with me know my slow pace) but I kept running . I didn't think I could do it, but the interns were in my head encouraging me each step of the way repeating YOU KIN DO IT!! I couldn't get the interns out of my head. And you know what I did. I made it all the way. Then I went inside the health center and did about a half hour of some of the other exercises they taught me. You see no matter what happens, WE WON THIS LEG OF THE RACE.
But we have to keep trying. Don't give up. Maybe somehow over the next couple of days we can get those extra votes. Miracles can happen!...I ran the campus. Maybe just maybe if we all make this one last big push we can get Dr Loy to DC . WE KIN DO IT!!!
Cristina Kula • almost 14 years ago
truly believe that One Small Step is a great cause for bringing awareness to a cure for PWS. I also truly believe that a program like 100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future can facilitate and equip those with loved ones that have PWS to stay active. Children and adults that have PWS need Kinesiologist and Exercise Physiologist that understand this disease and understand exercise to aid in prescribing and thus staving off obesity.
What a great race! I commend both top videos for doing such a great job of rallying support! It is a great notion that when someone believes in something so much we can move THOUSANDS of people!
Lupe Hernandez • almost 14 years ago
Actions speak louder than words and as my 96 year old grandpa says the secrete is......... staying active
Cassandra McDonald • almost 14 years ago
I voted!!
Ali Shenk • almost 14 years ago
Kristen C,
100 Citizens looks like it's an awesome organization and I applaud their efforts to reach the greater population and promote a healthy message. I hope you can read through some of the comments and realize that we are doing the same thing! The CDC says that 35.7% of Americans are obese, and still more are overweight. The research behind PWS is striving to unlock the genetic components of obesity for *everyone.* Will it also help people with PWS? Absolutely! But it will also help millions and millions of Americans.
martin chavez • almost 14 years ago
Ali S,
Can you please scientifically explain how "research behind PWS" will unlock the genetic component of obesity for everyone? not based on opinion but science. I keep reading this statement from PWS supports, but I do not understand how this will happen.
Please educate me.
Marjorie Freedman • almost 14 years ago
For the vast majority of obese individuals, obesity is not considered to be a genetic disease. The fact that obesity rates increased so drastically within the past 30 years clearly shows that environmental changes are the key drivers; it's impossible for genetics to change in such a short time span. It is essential to figure out why the genetic defects associated with PW lead to unsatiable appetites, but no reasonable scientist recommends conducting research on PW to solve our current obesity crises. In fact, the IOM report released yesterday "Accelerating progress in obesity prevention; solving the weight of the nation" clearly states on page 3: "Taking a population approach to obesity prevention is not to deny the importance of these genetic or biological factors, but to recognize the difficulty of maintaining energy balance when sedentary lives are the norm and high-calorie foods are ubiquitous." Thus, effective population approaches must focus on increasing physical activity and decreasing availability (and thus consumption) of high-calorie foods. Failure to focus on these obvious targets would be a grave mistake.
I suggest reading the IOM report; it's available free on their website.
Linda Vazquez • almost 14 years ago
Let's do this guys! Kinesiologists never give up! Keep voting these next two days...I'm not giving up yet...regardless, I know we can make a difference in people's lives...people will understand what Kinesiology is and how important it is to be involved in physical activity...if we really are proud of being part of the Kinesiology department, then we would be voting every single day! We KIN do this!
Marjorie Freedman • almost 14 years ago
Gregory V: you make some valid points but please understand that the Let's Move Video Challenge is NOT about research it's about ACTION. Mrs Obama specifically said "tell us what you are doing to fight obesity in your community." I am a scientist and believe in research; in fact the latest IOM report is based on research--and it speaks to WHAT WE MUST DO to fight obesity. So I think we are in agreement--research is the basis for action. In my mind (but I could be wrong), this challenge is not about showcasing what one organization is doing to raise money for research or awareness (which is a valid and noble cause) but it's about describing what one's organization is doing in their community to fight obesity, using the "actions" described on the Let's Move website.
theresa Strong • almost 14 years ago
@ martinc
In fact, examples abound on how an understanding of rare disorders provides critical insight into understanding and preventing/treating common disorders. Studies unlocking the genetics of rare familial cancers (which make up <5% of all cancer cases) provided the opportunity to identify the pathways that get disrupted when cancer strikes in the general population. Understanding the ultra-rare disorder progreia has led to insight into the normal aging process, whereas other research into other rare diseases such as familial hypercholesterolemia, fragile X syndrome, and pseudohypoaldosteronism type II has provided critical new information relevant to understanding and developing treatments for heart disease, autism and high blood pressure, respectively. Regarding obesity, understanding the very rare leptin/leptin receptor deficiencies in both mice and humans led to the first understanding that hormones secreted from fat cells directly influence appetite and energy expenditure in all individuals. This finding led to an entirely new way of thinking about how obesity develops.
I think many (quite reasonable) scientists in the field of obesity and beyond agree that genetics play a critical role in determining how prone one is to obesity, and perhaps equally important, how much their body “defends” against weight loss when trying to lose weight or maintain weight loss. Further, there is considerable support in the scientific community for gaining an understanding of rare obesity syndromes like PWS as a means of better understanding and treating obesity in the general population (in fact the National Institutes of Health recently hosted a symposium on the topic: http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/News/Calendar/BodyFatDisorders2012.htm)
It’s absolutely true that even those individuals highly predisposed to obesity will not become obese unless their environment is permissive, and that’s why it’s so important to not only understand the underlying genetics/biology of obesity, but also to change the environment, as the 100 Citizens initiative promotes. For those of us in the PWS community, we congratulate you on your work and the work of all of the other terrific programs gathered on this website because we feel it is essential to attack this difficult problem from many angles – understand the biology of excessive appetite and decreased energy expenditure in PWS and common obesity, while establishing an environment that maximizes healthy foods and abundant exercise are all critically important.
P Frechette • almost 14 years ago
I have seen the videos and read the comments of both top vote getters. I don't think it is about which initiative should merit more consideration. As I see it, both are equally commendable and would benefit from a mutual collaboration in the long term, regardless of the final results. Hopefully, Mrs Obama will see it in similar regard and invite both worthy groups to share their visions. Good luck to all!
theresa Strong • almost 14 years ago
@martin c - sorry, my earlier comment was cut off -
There are many examples of how understanding rare disorders contributes to preventing/treating common disorders. Understanding the genetics of rare, inherited cancers provided the opportunity to identify the pathways that are disrupted when cancer strikes more commonly in the general population. Understanding the ultra-rare disorder progeria has led to insight into the normal aging process, whereas research into other rare disorders such as familial hypercholesterolemia, Fragile X syndrome and pseudohypoaldosteronisms type II has provided critical new information relevant to understanding and treating heart disease, autism and high blood pressure, respectively. Regarding obesity, identification of the very rare leptin/leptin receptor deficiencies in mouse and humans led to the first understanding that hormones secreted from fat cells directly influence appetite in all individuals. This finding led to an entirely new way of thinking about how obesity develops.
I think many (quite reasonable) scientists in the field of obesity and beyond agree that genetics play a critical role in determining how prone one is to obesity, and perhaps equally important, how their body "defends" against weight loss when they are trying to lose weight or maintain weight loss. Further, there is considerable support in the scientific community for gaining an understanding of rare obesity syndromes like PWS as a means of better understanding and treating obesity in the general population, as evidenced by the recent symposium on the subject hosted by the National Institutes of Health (http://www2.niddk.nih.gov/News/Calendar/BodyFatDisorders2012.htm).
It's absolutely true that even those highly predisposed to obesity will not become obese unless their environment is permissive, and that's why it's so important for us to not only understand the genetics/biology of obesity, but also change the environment, as the 100 Citizens initiative promotes. For those of us in the PWS community, we congratulate your work and the work of all of the other terrific programs gathered on this website because we feel it is essential to attack this difficult problem from many angles - understanding the biology of the excessive appetite and decreased energy expenditure in PWS and common obesity, while establishing an environment that maximizes healthy foods and abundant exercise are all critically important.
Vicky Jaque • almost 14 years ago
Hey, the information has been great. And I think that all of the readers, including the program participants, are reminded of the value of basic science research. So cool that you mentioned the leptin work - some of the CSUN faculty have published about leptin, obeisty, etc. Thanks so much for your posts!
Now let's use the discussion board to motivate and lend some support to the 100 Citizens Project. We here at CSUN are so proud of all of you who have been a part of this project and the other wellness projects. Please remember that you all are doing amazing things in the communities that you serve!
L L • almost 14 years ago
Still a few more opportunities for you, your family, and your friends to vote for CSUN's 100 Citizens Project. Remember that the votes have to be verified, so it's not over yet. Keep working hard until the very end. Spread the word.
Steven Loy • almost 14 years ago
URL: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ7ebhpi1Wk&context=C4f21088ADvjVQa1PpcFOdQs6UE9gte7MRIUSsfTOquRjJv5LICng=
Take a look at this 5 minute video of 100 Citizens. THIS is the reason why we must get our message to Washington, DC ... to share what we can do, cost effectively! There isn't going to be a windfall of funds coming from the feds or the states to address physical activity and nutrition. WE KIN! 100 Citizens is flexible. 100 Citizens driven out of every university across the country addressing the specific problems affecting your communities ... maybe it's seniors, maybe it is a local group with a specific challenge such as PWS, maybe it's youth. We can improve human performance at any age! This is what we do! And when combined with nutrition education .... we have an effective mechanism to improve the health of our nation and eliminate obesity in a generation ... This is the challenge our students will take on and fight for as they have fought so valiantly for this challenge. Take a look and you'll understand why the White House must be informed .... so they too will understand what Kinesiology can do for the health of our nation.
Catherine wong • almost 14 years ago
Dr. Loy, your work and leadership in this “100 Citizens: Role Models for the Future” is inspiring. Wish we can start something similar in San Francisco. Maybe you can give us some trainings in the future. You have our support all the way.
Steven Loy • almost 14 years ago
Hi Catherine ... get all of Chinatown to vote for us! My hope is to have 100 Citizens delivered from all universities ... including San Francisco State which has a great Kin program. Educating the White House on what is possible is our intention. Thank you. I spent a lot of time in Chinatown roaming around with my cousins many years ago. You can click on two videos each day! Support yours and ours ... Steven
Catherine wong • almost 14 years ago
Hi Steven, i have been voting for several videos a day. I think you can vote for as many entries each day (one vote per program per day). I have been sharing about the success of your program at our last coalition mtg. I have confidence yours is one of the winning entries.
Brandi Hernandez • almost 14 years ago
We haven't made it back up to first place, but Dr. Loy and his program won with me and I'm sure he won with others. His intent was to get people to move and that is what I have done since I started his program in February. Not only did I learn how to exercise (correctly) but I learned the importance of exercising and what muscles get triggered by certain movements. I hope this video does go to the White House, because I have never met a person so devoted to what they do like Dr. Loy. He has definitely motivated to exercise and move daily. This program has the power to help the whole country fight our obesity problem and by raising awareness of Dr. Loy's 100 citizens project it can help us get there! Thanks, Dr. Loy and the CSUN interns that helped me start exercising and keep doing so!
Merril Simon • almost 14 years ago
Thank you for everyone's voting and support for Dr. Loy and his KIN students from all of the rest of us across CSUN including past and current Wellness participants.
This grassroots / campus group has innervated our local region already and will impact nationally if Dr. Loy has his way.
Thank you to the KIN students who creatively, ethically, and graciously worked to gain votes. You are role models of good citizens yourselves.
In my estimation, this video and this program is already a winner, regardless of the vote count.
Happy end of spring semester to you all.
Merril Simon
Ed Psych & Counseling/former Wellness member/current KIN student and Loy fan club.
Steven Loy • almost 14 years ago
1:51 and it looks like we'll be a few hundred votes short of completing our 42.2K marathon ... 42.2Km translates into 26.2 miles for a marathon which was our metaphor for this challenge. But I take this philosophically in that we know we are in a marathon to defeat childhood obesity and in fact being overweight and obese adults as well ... the problems are multi-factorial but we are sure of this ... exercise and nutrition are key and must work together. WE in Kinesiology are experts in exercise and this challenge has informed many of what we do and who we are. 100 Citizens will be transformative ... what we have started in the City of San Fernando will march across the nation and you will see 100 Citizens programs emanating from Kinesiology programs across the country. They will all not be the same programatically because every community is different but they will be the same in the program delivery by talented undergraduate students. This will drive job creation for kinesiology educated professionals within the health care arena as we must have Kinesiology trained administrators who understand how to marshal the talents and skills of these young people ... an energetic and enthusiastic army of Kinesiology graduates who know exercise! We have not finished our 42.2K ... we have much left to do.
Jamelle Jones • almost 14 years ago
Anything that help our people and does positive things as nation is great. I hope it can go nationwide so we all can do better.
Cindy Farkas • almost 14 years ago
Dr. Loy, I am a fitness professional (and new CSUN Alum) and would love to get involved in this program!
Cindy F.
Gary Loy • almost 14 years ago
CONGRATULATIONS to Steven and the entire CSUN community! You guys rocked. Let's take this as far as it will go. We must end childhood obesity and you now have the platform to make it happen.You definitely have my support. Way to go Bro!