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Fighting childhood obesity in Miami Valley

County, school programs work to help kids develop healthier lifestyles

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By Christy Schulte, For Healthy Connections 2:46 PM Tuesday, February 21, 2012

More than one out of every three kids in the Miami Valley area is considered overweight or obese, according to the 2011 Regional Pediatric Health Assessment. The survey, conducted by Dayton Children’s Hospital, found childhood obesity to be the region’s top health issue with 37 percent of children reported to be overweight or obese.

Despite much publicity about healthy eating and activities, the study found that from 2008 to 2011, the region’s children are still not getting enough fruits and vegetables and are spending more time in front of a TV or computer screen than participating in physical activity.

The biggest surprise was related to parent-perception. More than 60 percent of respondents considered to have overweight or obese children, didn’t perceive their kids as having any weight problem. In addition, between 7 and 8 percent of parents of overweight and obese children thought their child was underweight.

“The most surprising thing is that parents were unaware,” says Marin Gilbert, dietitian for Dayton Children’s. “It’s all relative. If one-third of kids are overweight and that’s who you’re looking at, your child may not seem that different.”

The Ohio Department of Health’s Report on the Body Mass Index of Third Graders from 2004 to 2010 found similar results. The numbers in the Miami Valley region reflect the same trend happening on a national level.

Being overweight during childhood puts kids at risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma and other serious illnesses.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says overweight adolescents have a 70 percent chance of becoming overweight or obese adults, which increases to 80 percent if one or more parent is overweight or obese.

5-2-1-Almost None

In 2010, Public Health — Dayton & Montgomery County conducted a Community Health Assessment. The survey found 55 percent of a person’s health status depends on lifestyle issues.

“If we are going to get healthier, we need to seize the opportunity to live a healthier lifestyle,” said Jim Gross, health commissioner for Montgomery County. “We’re beginning to see signs that people realize if they want to be healthier, they need to be active and aware of not only what they eat, but how much they eat.”

In response to the growing obesity epidemic, Montgomery County started an organization called GetUp Montgomery County to encourage kids and families to become more physically active and eat a more nutritious diet on a daily basis.

GetUp promotes a simple message — “5-2-1-Almost None” — stressing the importance of having five servings of fruits and vegetables every day, less than two hours of screen time, one hour a day of physical activity and almost no sugary drinks. “We call it our healthy lifestyle prescription,” Gross said.

GetUp promotes the “5-2-1-Almost None” message through partners in six separate sectors: early childhood, school, after school, worksite, health-care professionals and the community at large, which includes faith-based organizations, YMCAs, recreation departments. The goal is to deliver a consistent message not only to kids, but parents, caregivers and program leaders.

“The Get Up process is a way to institutionalize for young kids a way of life, which will then become a habit that hopefully they will continue. This has implications on the community because we will have healthier people down the road and medical costs will go down and result in a more active, involved, dynamic community,” said Bill Wharton, spokesperson for Public Health-Dayton and Montgomery County.

Reading, writing  and nutrition

The recent passage of child nutrition laws, both on a national and state level, point to the importance of reaching kids at school. In 2010, Ohio passed the Healthy Choices for Healthy Children legislation which provides nutritional standards for schools, mandated exercise at all grade levels and measurement of BMI to track results. The Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, signed by President Obama, also aims to make school lunches more available and nutritious.

“Schools definitely have a role to play. We can educate kids on wellness and making good choices through conversations in the classrooms,” said Rusty Clifford, superintendent of West Carrollton Schools. “The other part is role modeling. We’re strong proponents of healthy choices and healthy lifestyles, not only educating about it, but living it. We’re changing the culture and the conversation.”

The district holds an annual health and wellness fair for faculty and staff as well as a separate fair for the district’s middle school. At the fair, sixth, seventh and eighth graders learn about fitness, food, good choices, nutrition and smoking.

At the elementary level, West Carrolton has a fresh fruits and vegetable program so students get to try fresh produce each week. Frank Nicholas Elementary School received a grant to cover the cost of the tastings three times a week.

The program was so well-received that the district decided to cover the cost for the remaining elementary schools to sample fruits and vegetables once a week.

“By the time kids get to fifth grade, they’ve tasted probably all the types of produce available. The kids love it,” Clifford said.

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