Nutrition In Schools

Marjie HicksCiara Rutten

Casey Johnson

Definitions

• Obese- having excess body fat• Overweight- having excess body weight for a

particular height from fat, muscle, bone, water or a combination of these factors

Children and Obesity

• Experts estimate that 15% of children are overweight and another 15% are at risk of becoming overweight

• In 2008 1/3 of all children and adolescents were overweight or obese

It is clear from reviewing statistics that childhood obesity has been increasing in the last

20-30 years In a survey done between 1971 and 1974

• 5% of children between 2 and 5 were considered overweight

• 4% of children 6 -11 were considered overweight

• 6.1% of children 12-19 were considered overweight

In a survey done between 2003 and 2004

• 13.9% of children between 2 and 5 were considered overweight

• 18.8% of children 6 -11 were considered overweight

• 17.4% of children 12-19 were considered overweight

Cause

• Overweight and obesity are the result of “caloric imbalance”—too few calories expended for the amount of calories consumed—and are affected by various genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

• Schools play a large role in this.

Long-term Effects of Obesity

• Cardiovascular disease• High blood pressure• High cholesterol• Diabetes• Heart disease related death

School Lunches

• The Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine and the Healthy School Lunch Campaign say that the “menus served in school lunch programs are too rich in saturated fat and cholesterol and too low in fiber- and nutrient-rich fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes”.

School lunches

• Beef and cheese nachos – calories-469, sodium-1500mg, total fat- 24 grams, saturated fat- 8.8 grams

• Cheese burger- calories- 401, total fat- 19 grams, saturated fat – 7.6 grams

• Pepperoni pizza- contains more than 6 grams of saturated fat and pepperoni is a processed meat that is shown to increase the risk of cancer

• A slice of Pizza counts as a serving of vegetables! (Based on the use of tomato paste in the sauce.)

Proposed changes

• Changes proposed by the USDA to the existing school lunch program in January of 2011 would have helped to reduce childhood obesity by adding more fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and low fat or fat free milk to school lunch menus. In addition, sodium levels would have been cut by 50% over a 10 year period.

• Unfortunately in November of 2011, Congress blocked the proposed changes. Pressure from food companies such as Con Agra, Coco-Cola, Del Monte Foods and Schwan's argued that the USDA went to far in trying to improve the nutrition in school lunches.

What can educators do to help?• Set a good example by eating a balanced diet yourself. If we model proper nutrition,

children will likely follow. Eat lunch occasionally with your students so they can see that you “practice what you preach”.

• Provide healthy snacks for your students. This means for parties and special events as well as snack time.

• Involve children in selecting and preparing food. Children are more likely to try new things if they are involved in the process. Try planting your own garden for them to select items from for snack time.

• Share nutrition information with children and their caregivers. Make this a part of your class newsletter or blog.

• Increase the opportunities for children to participate in physical activities. Take your students and go for a walk. Play a game outside. Get out and do!

These are just a few examples. Additional information about what you can do may be found at:

www.cdc.gov/hccdphp/dash/nutguide.htmwww.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/pledges/school/html

Nutrition QuizObesity: 1. In 2008 how many children were overweight or obese? 2. What is obesity defined as? 3. What is one way to prevent obesity? 4. What two things are school lunch menus to rich in? 5. Name two things that lunch menus are too low in:

Effects of Obesity: 6. What is BMI? 7. What is disease is linked with higher childhood body mass index (BMI)? 8. By U.S standards how many children are overweight?

Nutrition: 9. Name one of the worst school lunch items:10. A slice of what counts as a serving of vegetables?11. Over a ten year period what would have been cut in half?12. How many calories does a cheese burger have?

Resources•  

• "Childhood Obesity Facts." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. <http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/obesity/facts.htm>. 

• Article from the governmental agency which provides facts about childhood obesity, health effects and tips on • prevention.•  • Iannelli, M.D., Vincent. "Childhood Obesity-Child Obesity Statistics." About.com. N.p., 30 Nov. 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. 

<http://pediatrics.about.com/od/obesity/a/obesity_stats.htm>. • Website article about obesity statistics.•  • Iannelli, M.D., Vincent. "Healthy Kids School Lunches." About.com. N.p., 26 Jan. 2008. Web. 26 Nov. 2011. 

<http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/school_lunches.htm>. • Website article about school lunch nutrition.•  • “News Release #0010.11." United States Department of Agriculture. N.p., 13 Jan. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. 

–      <www.usda.gov/wps/portal/usda>. • USDA press release concerning proposed changes to school lunch program.•  • Nixon, Ron. "Congress Blocks New Rules on School Lunches." The New York Times 15 Nov. 2011. Web. 17 Nov. 2011. 

<www.nytimes.com/2011/11/16/us/politics/congress-blocks-new-rules on-school-lunches>. • A current events article which described how Congress block the proposed changes to school the school • lunch program.•  • Office of the Surgeon General. N.p., n.d. Web. 4 Dec. 2011.          • <www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/pledges/schools/html>. • Website article about how teachers can promote healthy food options.

• "Promoting Lifelong Healthy Eating Among Young People." Center for Disease Control. N.p., n.d.  Web. 4 Dec. 2011. <Office of the Surgeon General. N.p., n.d.  Web. 4 Dec. 2011. –      <www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/pledges/schools/html>. 

• Website article that features ways to promote healthy eating for children.•  •  • Sharples, Tiffany. "Lifelong Effects of Childhood Obesity." Time.com. N.p., 6 Dec. 2007. Web. 26 Nov. 

www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1692184,00.html>. • Article from current events magazine which indicates a link between childhood obesity and heart disease.•  • "The Five Most Unhealthy School Lunches." Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine. N.p.,  2010. Web. 31 Oct. 2011. 

<www.pcrm.org/health/reports/the-five-most-unhealty-school-lunches>. • A website founded by health care professional and concerned citizens dedicated to preventive medicine, especially healthy nutrition.