From Awareness to Action: Addressing Obesity in Lake County
- Demarion Newell
- Mar 28
- 3 min read
Community members, health professionals, and local leaders gathered earlier this month for an important conversation on health, community, and well-being in Lake County.
Hosted by Community Advocates of Northern Indiana (CANI) through its Beloved Community Coalition, the Bodies, Biology, & Better Conversations event, brought together community and community experts to discuss one of the most pressing challenges facing our community today: our health.
The Beloved Community Coalition is an initiative led by CANI that brings together community members, leaders, faith organizations, and partners to build stronger, healthier, and more supportive communities across Lake and Porter counties. Inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of a Beloved Community—one free from hate, hunger, and poverty—the coalition works toward this mission through initiatives like its Community Conversation series.
That impact has grown significantly over time. The coalition’s first meeting in 2018 drew just over 30 attendees. At the March 7th event, nearly 100 people registered. Marking the coalition's largest turnout to date.
“I’m so pleased,” said Tracy Lewis, Founder and CEO of CANI, reflecting on the coalition’s growth.
The event approached obesity as a complex and multifaceted health issue. According to data published by Healthline, 42% of adults and 20% of children in the United States are considered obese. In response, CANI continues to create spaces that bring together community members, healthcare providers, and leaders to educate, share resources, and address these challenges holistically.
This conversation approached obesity from multiple viewpoints: clinical, community, emotional, and spiritual, highlighting the need for a well-rounded understanding of health.
The panel featured Dr. Angelique D. Brown of Methodist Hospitals, Dr. Janet Seabrook of Community HealthNet, Dr. Treyvaughn Davis-Neal of Nzinga Mind & Heart, and Pastor James Williams of Church of the Living God in Muskegon, Michigan and was moderated by Chelsea Whittington of CWHITT PR, who also shared her personal journey with lifestyle changes.
Dr. Brown opened the discussion with a message: obesity is not a character flaw, nor is it simply a matter of willpower.
“We are all born with a set point, and the body defends that set point,” she explained. “When we lose weight, our body works to return to that set point. That’s why it’s difficult not just to lose weight, but to keep it off.”
Pastor Williams shared his own health journey, explaining that he once was pre-diabetic and weighed 369 pounds with high blood pressure. Today, he is nearly 200 pounds lighter and free from many chronic disease risks.
“It’s not a one-time event. It’s not a diet — it’s a lifestyle change,” Williams explained.
He emphasized the importance of understanding body chemistry, metabolism, and insulin sensitivity - lessons that helped him make sustainable changes over time.
“You have to love yourself and know what you want to accomplish,” he said. “Set reasonable goals. Once you reach them, you’ll feel like you can keep going.”
During the panel, he shared the importance of limiting processed foods and focusing diet on fresh food, a sentiment shared by all of the panelists.
“If it’s in a box, it’s in a tomb,” he said. “If you want to live, you have to eat live food.”
Attendees Megan Ballard and Robbie Smith, a mother-and-daughter duo shared how the event encouraged them to reflect on their own habits.
“I was so inspired to change the things that I’m doing incorrectly and continue doing the things I’m doing right,” Ballard emphasized. “Some of the things I thought I needed to do, I actually don’t.”
Ballard said she plans to reduce her intake of processed foods, while Smith shared that she intends to incorporate weight training twice a week based on guidance from the panel.
Margarita Muniz-Olson of NorthShore Health Centers highlighted the value of learning more about emerging treatments, including GLP-1 medications.
“Lots of people don’t understand what GLP-1 is,” she said. “It was helpful to have doctors [here to] explain it and answer questions so people can better understand their options.”
She encouraged others to continue learning, noting that these conversations help individuals make informed decisions about their health.
Speakers and attendees alike emphasized that education, access to resources, and community support are essential to improving health outcomes.
“Give yourself grace and compassion,” Ballard added. “Take it day by day.”
Lewis closed by reinforcing the importance of community engagement and shared responsibility.
“If not for you, then for someone you know, please come,” she said. “These are free resources, and it’s about supporting one another, connecting to resources, and building something stronger together.”
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