Cities and School Districts Launch Healthy Kids’ Initiatives

Although recent reports show we are making progress in the fight against childhood obesity, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates there are still 12.5 million American kids under 20 years old who are currently obese. Families are encouraging kids to exercise and eat right and new nationwide nutrition standards are eliminating junk foods from school cafeterias and buildings, but the obesity epidemic will not be solved overnight. It takes time to see the impact of our efforts, and we need to continue making big strides at home and in schools and communities to improve our kids’ health.

Communities across the country are picking up speed in their fight against childhood obesity; they are launching more intense health programs and rallying together to ensure children learn how to make nutritious choices when they’re young and for the rest of their lives. Below, we shine a spotlight on Philadelphia’s 5-year initiative to reduce the city’s childhood obesity rates from 21% to 17%.

In 2010, 57% of Philadelphia kids ages 6-11 were overweight or obese, according to this BBC article. The Philadelphia Department of Public Heath took action and kicked off a comprehensive “Get Healthy Philly” campaign the same year to tackle obesity from all angles.

“Get Healthy Philly” targets six environments where kids and adults play, learn, and live:
1) Community Food Access and Affordability
2) Active Living in Communities
3) School Programs
4) After-School Programs
5) Workplace Policy Changes
6) Media and Policy Environments
You can read more about all six elements here: http://1.usa.gov/1dO6Yis

We took a closer look at the ramped up efforts in Philadelphia schools, and discovered that some schools are going as far as opening complete wellness programs in order to improve students’ health. The wellness programs will launch in at least three schools in the Philadelphia area this fall, according to this Philly.com article.  Here are a couple aspects of the wellness programs that take teaching students healthy behavior to the next level:

• Trained restaurant chefs will jump into cafeteria kitchens weekly to serve up nutritious meals and teach kids about the healthy ingredients. To make the meals even more special, kids will get to eat with real plates and silverware to encourage them to slow down and think about what they are eating.
• Philadelphia Union soccer players will visit students and set up playing fields to get kids excited about the sport and physical activity.
• Throughout the program, students will also get access to dieticians to improve their eating habits.

Philadelphia is not the only community coming together to keep kids healthy; Leon County Schools in Florida have also developed a wellness program for kids, according to this WCTV article. Here are some of the ways this school district is protecting students from obesity and related diseases like diabetes:

•  All schools now have full-functioning kitchens to make healthy meal preparation easier.
• The district is promoting a “9-5-2-1-0” plan to help kids remember to make healthy choices every day of the week:

§  Get nine hours of sleep

§  Eat five servings of fruit and veggies

§  Spend two hours or less watching TV or using the computer

§  Be physically active for at least one hour

§  Consume zero sugary drinks, alcohol or tobacco