Team Profile Summary

The Mid-Mississippi Delta Team (MMD) has targeted childhood obesity as the focus of its work. With the reduction in childhood obesity, the assumed consequences would be a reduction in Type II Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease. According to aneki.com, the United States has the highest obesity rate in the world. In 2005, Mississippi’s obesity rate of 30.9% was the highest in the nation. The rates are even higher in the African-American population, with obesity rates in boys as high as 49% and 39% in girls.

For additional information, you may contact Dr. Alfio Rausa at 662.453.4563 or Alfio.Rausa@msdh.state.ms.us.

Team Profile Details

Problem Statement

Citizens of the MMD counties have a disproportionate share of obesity. Race, disparity, poverty and limited access to available health services are the major social determinants contributing to this high obesity rate. Obesity leads to increased incidences of Diabetes, Hypertension, Heart disease, Asthma and Osteoarthritis. The goal of our project is to help citizens overcome the poor health status resulting from inactivity, improper nutrition and negative social determinants of health with short term and long term solutions/strategies.

Team Objectives

• Implement policy through legislation to require bike paths, walking trails, playgrounds and sidewalks in any new subdivision.
• Implement strategies to market community gardens resulting in increased access to healthy food choices, decreased dependence on unhealthy food outlets and increased community participation in physical activity.
• Decrease incidence of obesity in the counties by strategically marketing “healthy environment leads to a healthy community”, thus changing the mindset of the citizens to make positive lifestyle choices.

Design Team Partners: (in alphabetical order)

• 100 Black Men of Greenville
• Aaron Henry Health Center
• Alcorn University
• City of Clarksdale
• City of Greenville
• Coahoma Community College
• Coahoma County Head Start
• Coahoma County Health Department
• Community Foundation
• County Extension Service
• Deep South Cancer Network/Fannie Lou Hamer Cancer Foundation
• Delta Health Alliance
• Delta Regional Authority
• Delta Revitalization Commission
• Delta State University
• Dollar General Cooperation
• Greenville Separate School District
• Hollandale Early Head Start
• Hollandale HELP/SNAP Program
• Hollandale School District
• Indianola Separate School District
• Mississippi Delta Community College
• Mississippi Valley State University
• North Sunflower County Hospital
• Northwest Regional Medical Center
• Quitman County Development Organization
• Representative John Hines
• Representative John Mayo
• Sunflower County Health Department
• Sunflower County Hospital
• Town of Hollandale
• Town of Metcalfe
• US Soil Conservation Service
• Washington County Board of Supervisors
• Washington County Health Department
• YMCA of Greenville

For more information and to become involved, please contact:
Team Lead: Dr. Alfio Rausa
Email: Alfio.Rausa@msdh.state.ms.us
Phone: 662.453.4563