The Center for Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles is one of nine centers across the country participating in a clinical trial sponsored by the National Institutes of Health investigating insulin and other agents in the prevention of type-1 diabetes, and it is part of the NIH Multicenter Trial investigating treatments for type-2 diabetes in children and adolescents.

Kids N Fitness, a 12-session research study, is designed to assess whether a family-centered nutrition and exercise program helps overweight children improve their health.

Children and their parents meet weekly to learn about the benefits of a healthy lifestyle using games, dance and strength training. Participants make field trips to grocery stores and restaurants to practice reading food labels and making healthy choices. Each child who enrolls sets individual achievement goals. Parents are taught how to support their children in the process.

Established in 1998, the program has shown that such lifestyle changes can impact weight gain and overall health. Enrollment is free to families who qualify. For information, please call 323-361-5423.

Childrens Hospital Los Angeles has joined the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California in the Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative. The goal: to address the interrelated factors that lead to obesity and diabetes in East and South Los Angeles. The initiative began in 2004 with a $2 million grant from the W. M. Keck Foundation, which will support two-year planning process to identify the factors that contribute to decisions about diet, physical activity and healthcare within the these communities, develop strategies to prevent diabetes and promote healthy lifestyle choices, as well as mobilize experts, government officials, community leaders, business and residents.

The planning process for the Keck Diabetes Prevention Initiative will advance an eight-year intervention in partnership with the Edward Roybal Comprehensive Health Center in East Los Angeles and the Hubert Humphrey Comprehensive Health Center in South Los Angeles.