Concerned about obesity in Indiana, the ISMA Alliance (ISMA-A) has begun a statewide campaign that can help you teach patients, both children and adults, the importance of a healthy lifestyle. The initiative uses two simple graphics.

The second graphic, “54321GO!Indiana,” encourages children to move through active play and teaches them proper nutrition. For adults, the “EASY, INDIANA CAN DO IT!” graphic focuses on healthy food and drink choices, and exercise.

“We hope to see these two messages in every physician reception area and examination room, and at every clinic and hospital in Indiana,” said Ferial Alsikafi, M.D., ISMA-A president. “It’s important to share the idea that obesity is a public health problem and also a medical problem because it is a chronic disease.”

Already, alliance members have distributed the graphics during Doctors’ Day activities in Fort Wayne and Evansville, and in Vigo County schools. In September, Childhood Obesity Prevention month, alliance members plan to promote the campaign through media, radio and newspapers.

The “54321Go!” campaign was adopted in agreement with Chicago Memorial Hospital. Dr. Alsikafi created the “EASY, INDIANA CAN DO IT!” initiative.

Download fliers on the ISMA Alliance web page. For information, email Dr. Alsikafi.

For 54321GO! usage guidelines and graphics click here.