Empowering Healthy Kids Blog

Stumbled across this webcast chaired by Travis Smiley with impressive panel guests (including a video message from Bill Clinton). There were strong opinions about the challenges and potential solutions to this problem. If nothing else, watch it for the way Travis presents and the way one panellist gets the whole audience into an impromptu aerobic session.

Here’s a bit more info about the meeting:

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Tavis Smiley Presents have partnered to host a town hall meeting panel discussion on Eliminating Childhood Obesity: Best Practices for Communities and Schools in Baltimore, Md.

This meeting will explore ideas to prevent and reduce childhood obesity, particularly among those children at greatest risk. It will also examine effective strategies for working together in reshaping schools and communities to be healthier places for our children. As a person interested in health and health care in the Baltimore area, you are cordially invited to attend this informative town hall meeting.

A panel of local and national community and education leaders, community representatives, civic organizations, policy-makers, and consumers in Baltimore and surrounding areas.

Childhood obesity is a serious public health epidemic. Over the past three decades, rates of obesity in the United States have more than doubled among children ages 2 to 5 and more than tripled among those ages 6 to 11. The Institute of Medicine reports that an estimated 9 million children over age 6 are obese.

Further, African-American and Latino children living in lower-income communities are among those that suffer the most from being overweight or clinically obese, which can lead to the early onset of other life-threatening illnesses, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation focuses on the pressing health and health care issues facing our country. As the nation’s largest philanthropy devoted exclusively to improving the health and health care of all Americans, the Foundation works with a diverse group of organizations and individuals to identify solutions and achieve comprehensive, meaningful and timely change. For more than 30 years the Foundation has brought experience, commitment, and a rigorous, balanced approach to the problems that affect the health and health care of those it serves. When it comes to helping Americans lead healthier lives and get the care they need, the Foundation expects to make a difference in your lifetime.

Great idea for other schools to replicate:

Two years ago, these two friends and co-workers [Alcoa Middle School teachers Mary Beth Warwick and Monique Maples] decided they could try to make a difference in their environment by starting a club whose goals are simple: come when you can and keep moving. The club — called the Alcoa Tornado Trackers — is open to all fifth-, sixth- , seventh- and eighth-graders at Alcoa Middle School. Students are encouraged to attend as many sessions as they can. The group meets from 3:15 to 4:15 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday.

Last Tuesday, 53 middle schoolers showed up to run, walk and learn more about nutrition. They gather at the duck pond beside Alcoa Elementary and then take off along the greenway at Springbrook Park, doing as many laps as they can. Warwick said Alcoa Middle School has a total of about 500 students.

Here’s the problem:

A six-month progress report on childhood obesity in the East of England shows that only 40 per cent of Cambridgeshire schools have obtained Healthy Schools status - below the national average of 47 per cent.

Here’s the solution:

From next year the Government will offer five to 16-yearolds the chance to participate in five hours of sport a week, and three hours for 16 to 19- year-olds. Height and weight statistics are also being recorded to track progress in tackling obesity, and data from the 2006/07 academic year is expected by September 30.

Simple?

I spotted this in Oakleigh:

I think we will find more of these “market driven” solutions popping up around local communities. By the way here are the details of the “Activate Kids” event:

Activate Kids
Tuesday 25th to Thursday 27th September 2007
11am and 1pm
“Healthy exercise and food classes for kids”
Tuesday: Yoga & Wicked Wraps
Wednesday: Pilates & Rockin’ Rolls
Thursday: Dancing & Smiley Sandwiches

Healthy foods
1. Give thirsty kids water and limit sugary drinks such as soft drinks, cordials and fruit juice drinks
2. Help young bones grow strong with 2-3 serves every day or low-fat milk, cheese or yoghurt
3. A variety of vegies add vitality - 5 serves a day will help kids thrive.
4. Grains are great for energy - shop for wholegrain and high-fibre foods.
5. Think healthy snacks - provide fruit, grains and low-fat dairy and limit chips, pastries and sweets.
Healthy habits
6. Start the day with breakfast - make sharing healthy meals part of your family routine.
7. Recreational screen time - switch off after 2 hours.
8. Help kids be active for at least 1 hour each day.
9. Show kids how to do it - healthy parents make health role models.
10. Shop smartly - be in charge of what goes in to your trolley.

This was taken from CSIRO’s Wellbeing Plan for Kids. It will be distributed as a fridge magnet to all primary school kids around Australia during September 2007.

UPDATE: Message from Australian Prime Minister John Howard:

Research from Dr. Pagnini from The NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity:

… the study involving 32 mothers found mums were being made anxious because they were rewarded if their children were good eaters and criticised if their child was thin or a fussy eater.

Many mothers worry about their children being underweight and not eating enough, and mums spend a lot of time trying to get them to eat more.

A summary of Dr. Pagnini’s tips:

• Do not worry about preschoolers eating enough because
  encouraging children to eat more than they felt like could stop them developing a
  natural self-regulation of appetite;
• Switching to whole grain breads and low fat milk products;
• Offering water as a drink;
• Using small portion sizes;
• Letting their children see them enjoying healthy foods;
• Resisting the temptation to give children treats every day;
• Turning off the TV and enjoying some active play together is also
  beneficial;
• If parents have questions about any of these issues they can get help from
  their GP or an early childhood nurse.

Whilst researching for Saatchi & Saatchi competition that I am entering, I came across an interesting research paper from the UK that listed a table with the strength of evidence for potential factors affecting obesity:

I thought it was an interesting that in the category of “High proportion of food prepared outside the home” (ie. fast food) is only a possible risk factor for obesity. The strongest way to reduce the risk obesity, according to the research, is to focus on regular physical activity, high fibre diet, reduce sedentary activities and reduce energy-dense, micronutrient-poor foods. But we knew that already, didn’t we?