Altarum Institute Policy
Roundtable
Cosponsored by the National WIC
Association
Can WIC Play a Role in Stemming the
Childhood Obesity Epidemic?
Can WIC Play a Role in Stemming
Childhood Obesity?
Maxine Hayes, MD, MPH
Washington State Health Officer
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YES!
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Getting it right
in the beginning
is getting it right!
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WIC has a long reach
▲Serves half of all infants in the country
▲Connects families to preventive health services
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WIC saves health care dollars
▲Every $1 spent in WIC saves up to $3.50
▲WIC moms are 50% less likely to have a very
low birth weight infant
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WIC’s Core Mission:
Nutrition and Breastfeeding Support
▲WIC is unique – combining health services with
access to healthy foods
▲No other program does this
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Not breastfeeding is
a missed opportunity for
▲ Better health for children
▲ Better health for women
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More partners needed for
breastfeeding promotion and support
▲ Hospitals
▲ Work sites
▲ Media and social marketing
▲ Professional support
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WIC’s new food rule and childhood
obesity
▲Now WIC foods are even more nutrient-
dense
▲Policies about WIC foods are even more
supportive of breastfeeding
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WIC is a successful program
▲WIC is a key partner in
childhood obesity
prevention
▲Other partners are
emerging
▲Help WIC do what it
does best!
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