Improving Obesity and Diabetes Outcomes

Louisiana Obesity and Diabetes Collaborative Mission

The Louisiana Obesity and Diabetes Collaborative is a group of dedicated individuals working to improve health outcomes related to obesity and diabetes through advocacy work, including increasing health literacy, connecting patients to programs and services, and increasing awareness of prediabetes and diabetes. The Collaborative works to make a meaningful impact through a coordinated effort of obesity and diabetes prevention, management and policy change.

The Collaborative is comprised of three work groups:

Access Work Group

Ensuring the community-clinical linkages are in place to improve overall access to diabetes and obesity resources.

Awareness/Education Work Group

Prevent and manage obesity and diabetes by increasing awareness, education and resources for the community.

Payor/Policy Work Group

Identify realistic reform to combat obesity and diabetes in Louisiana.

Quarterly meetings are held throughout the year with each meeting focusing on a specific topic to educate and inform partners on obesity and diabetes prevention and treatment strategies.

To join the Louisiana Obesity and Diabetes Collaborative, email your interest to LAObesityCommission@la.gov.

Meeting Archives

  • Quarterly Meetings from 2022

    March 31, 2022

    Dr. Hawk Cambron with Louisiana Family Practice in Eunice, LA and Breanna Staab with LSU AgCenter discussed their partnership aimed at reducing obesity and diabetes prevalence in their community through implementation of the National Diabetes Prevention Program (National DPP). Lauren Hebert-Henderson with Healthy BR discussed Healthy BR’s Geaux Get Healthy initiative which is aimed at reducing food insecurity in underserved areas of Baton Rouge. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

  • Quarterly Meetings from 2021

    December 15, 2021

    Marci Brewer, MPH with the Bureau of Family Health, Colleen (CJ) McCullough with the Bureau of Family Health, and LaNaya Carter with the Bureau of Nutrition Services identified and discussed obesity prevention and nutrition-related activities and projects occurring within the bureaus, as well as provided key related resources and services for providers and families throughout the State. Click here to access the recorded presentation

    September 29, 2021

    Dr. Katie Queen with Our Lady of the Angels Pediatric Clinic and Dr. Marcella Houser with LSU Health Sciences Center at Tiger Care Pediatrics discussed the Louisiana American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) Committee on Childhood Obesity and Nutrition, including the history of the committee, where to access pediatric obesity care, September’s Childhood Obesity Awareness Campaign, future collaboration ideas, and how to get involved! Dr. Courtney Walker with Novo Nordisk, highlighted the impact of obesity as a disease and how treatment can work to improve outcomes, as well as the realm of pediatric obesity and how treatment can work to improve pediatric patient outcomes. Kim Elston with Novo Nordisk, reviewed SaxendaCares and the SaxendaTogether program. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

    June 24, 2021

    Bonnie Hymel, Director of Institutional Relations with Pennington Biomedical Research Center (PBRC) shared legislative updates focused on combating obesity and diabetes in our state. Dr. Amanda Staiano, Associate Professor and Director of Pediatric Obesity and Health Behavior Laboratory at PBRC then presented on “Obecity, USA,” a campaign developed to address the nation’s growing obesity epidemic, as well as the TEAM UP study, which is testing family-based weight management strategies delivered by doctors, nurses, dietitians, and health coaches in primary care settings throughout Louisiana. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

    March 19, 2021

    In coordination with National Nutrition Month, this meeting focused on addressing health disparities through community nutrition and lifestyle programs. We were joined by three speakers, Kira Davidson with The Rapides Foundation, Jordan Ring with MLK Health Center and Pharmacy, and Helen Woo with Sankofa. They highlighted activities, programs, and resources centered on food access, healthy eating, and behavior changes. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

  • Quarterly Meetings from 2020

    December 11, 2020

    Dr. Robert Delarosa, DDS presented Pediatric Oral Health and Obesity: Preventive Collaboration. Dr. Eric Griggs, Community Medicine Director at Access Health Louisiana in New Orleans, provided guidance on improving health equity for our state’s residents. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

    September 25, 2020

    Dr. Courtney Walker from NovoNordisk provided Updates on COVID-19 and Diabetes and Obesity, Michael Bertaut of Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana presented Health Insurance Changes During The Era Of Covid-19, and Tasha Bergeron from Blue Cross Blue Shield Louisiana presented Blue Cross Blue Shield Population Health Management and Diabetes Coverage. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

    May 4, 2020

    Dr. Courtney Walker, along with Novo Nordisk, discussed COVID-19 as it correlates to obesity and diabetes. The presentation also shared research insights from Dr. Steven Heymsfield, with Pennington Biomedical Research Center. Click here to access the recorded presentation.

    March 5, 2020

    Coretta LaGarde from the American Heart Association presented on Advancing Million Hearts: American Heart Association and Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention Partners working together in Louisiana. Click here to access the recorded presentation.


Join the Louisiana Obesity and Diabetes Collaborative

We are continuously seeking new members to join the Louisiana Obesity and Diabetes Collaborative. If your organization is interested in improving the burden of obesity in Louisiana, or you just want to learn more about the Collaborative, please contact us.

Name(Required)