Wellness Policy

Board Presentation

April 2008

Obesity: A National Epidemic Among Children, Too

• Obesity among children has become a national epidemic – with the percentage of overweight children aged 6 to 11 more than doubling over the past 20 years – from 7% in 1980 to 18.8% in 2004. Among teens, obesity has more than tripled over the past 20 years – from 5% to 17.1%.

• The health consequences of obesity are profound. Obesity can lead to diabetes, high blood pressure, abnormal cholesterol, asthma, cancers, anxiety, depression, fatty liver disease, and sleep apnea.

• As a result of these health risks associated with childhood obesity, the CDC predicts that our current generation of children may be the first ever to have a shorter lifespan than their parents.

Source: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/overweight/index.htm

Childhood Obesity: The Delaware Story

• In Delaware, approximately 36% of children and youth have an unhealthy weight – and those rates continue to rise.

• This epidemic has a significant impact on the state’s economy as well, currently costing Delaware at least $207 million in medical expenditures every year, according to a study in Obesity Research.

Source: Eric A. Finkelstein, Ian C. Fiebelkorn, and Guijing Wang. State-Level Estimates of Annual Medical Expenditures Attributable to Obesity. Obesity Research 2004 12: 18-24. 

Academic Benefits

The links between students’ nutrition and physical activity and academic performance are profound:

• Students who are more physically active tend to have better grades and higher achievement test scores (The California Endowment).

• Increased participation in school breakfast programs is associated with higher academic test scores, improved daily attendance, and better classroom behavior, and also has been shown to reduce absenteeism (Journal of the American Dietetic Association).

• Children who participate in school nutrition programs are less likely to have discipline problems (Evaluation of USDA Fruit and Vegetable Pilot Program).

Academic Benefits

Public Law 108.265, Section 204• Goals for the nutrition education, physical

activity and other school-based activities.• Nutrition guidelines for all foods sold on

campus.• Assurance that school meals meet USDA

regulations.• A plan for monitoring the implementation of the

wellness policy. • Involvement of parents, students,

representatives of school food authority, the school board, school administrators and the public.

Committee Members• Barb Bobik, Physical Education Teacher• Joanne Christian, School Board - Parent• Betsy Cycyk, School Nurse• Rebecca Feathers, Building Administrator• Matt Fallis, Human Resources Director• Jenny Gibeault, Teacher• Linda Johnson, Health Teacher• Eileen McAllister, Director of Secondary Education• Debbie Panchisin, Director of Elementary Education• Kittie Rehrig, Sup. of Student Services• Janice Vander Decker, Sup. of School Nutrition

Wellness Plan

• Goals for Nutrition Education• Goals for Nutrition Standards• Goals for Physical Activity• Goals for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs

Education• Goals for Family Life and Sexuality Education• Goals for Emotional Health Education

Increase opportunities for students to have access to healthy and nutritious food:

• - Birthday celebrations will be planned for whole-school, not by individual parents/guardians

• - Healthy snack guidelines will be implemented by staff and parents.

• - Nutrition Services will develop a brochure to educate the community on health issues including obesity.

• - Curriculum Office will work with elementary administrators to address health education at the elementary schools

• - Nutrition Services will post the nutrition labels of common food that is served.

Increase physical activity for students

• Fitness grams begun this year

• Daily movement activities

• Build knowledge and skills of lifelong fitness through physical activity

Staff Wellness

• Explore what we currently have in place for staff

• Consider surveying staff for future needs

Next Steps

Continue to share the Wellness Plan with:– Principals– Guidance Counselors/Social Workers– Nurses– PE Teachers– Health Teachers– Cafeteria Staff– Parent/Business Advisory Council– Business Partners

Next Steps

• Post Wellness Plan at every school

• Administrators to present Wellness Plan annually to faculty

• Wellness Committee to meet regularly