A Novel tool for Health Literacy: Using Comic Books to Combat Childhood Obesity

J Hosp Librariansh. 2016;16(2):152-159. doi: 10.1080/15323269.2016.1154768. Epub 2016 Apr 20.

Abstract

Childhood obesity remains a serious problem that requires health literacy projects to engage both parents and children in making healthy choices. This paper describes an award-funded project designed by LSU Health Shreveport (LSUHS) faculty from the Health Sciences Library and the Department of Pediatrics who created a comic book to help children and their parents learn practical ways children can make healthier lifestyle choices. LSUHS also collaborated with LSU-Shreveport to recruit a student artist, who illustrated the comic and designed promotional items used to promote the print and online versions of the book throughout the community.

Keywords: childhood obesity; comic books; health literacy.