By by Brenda Fike

An open forum addressing the issue of obesity was held last Thursday at the Audrain County Courthouse Community Room in Mexico. Termed "Super Size: A Solution For Obesity In Audrain County," area residents were invited to attend the forum, one of two scheduled within the county. The community outreach – coordinated through the Audrain City-County Health Unit and Missouri Department of Health and Senior Service's Maternal Health program – is seeking citizens' input to three principal questions: "What is driving obesity in Audrain County?", "What resources are available?" and "What ideas does someone have that could be implemented?" A similar meeting is scheduled for Aug. 27 at the Lange Building in Vandalia. Following that meeting, ACCHU Administrator Kevin Lowrance said accumulated data and information will be assessed, with a resultant action plan then developed for the county. Above, Lowrance addresses participants at Thursday’s forum.