Adaptation to Healthy School NutritionPresentation intended to address the role of the Jefferson Parish Public Schools

System in combating Childhood Obesity

ByLaTanya J. Thompson, MPH Student

Walden University

Learning Objectives

• Address increasing attention and problems arising as a result of obesity.

• Discuss the significance of the role the public school system plays on child behaviors.

• Discuss potential affects of poor nutrition on educational process.

• Discuss the challenges we face as educators.• Discuss potential steps we can take to improve

the problem of obesity arisen from poor nutrition.

What’s the Problem?• Children becoming increasingly overweight and obese (IOM,

2009).• Most do NOT meet standard recommendations (IOM, 2009).• Prevalence increased over the years in 3 separate age groups

by at least doubling (CDC, 2009)• 2008 Louisiana state obesity rate is at 28.3% according to the

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals (LADHH, 2009)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) Promoting Healthier Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from heep://www.cdc.gov/Features/School Nutrition/

Institute of Medicine. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. (2008) Louisiana Child Obesity Fact Sheet. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.dhh.state.la.us/

What’s the Problem? (cont.)• Statistics show increased risk to be obese as an adult

if were obese as a child (IOM, 2009).• Obesity leads to several resulting outcomes as in but

not limited to (CDC, 2009):– Negative self-image.– Diabetes– High Blood Pressure– Poor mental performance.– Poor physical performance.– Heart diseases and certain cancers

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) Promoting Healthier Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from heep://www.cdc.gov/Features/School Nutrition/

Institute of Medicine. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx.

Why do we care?

• School influences eating habits.• Time spent in school is 8 hours per day.• Schools are key stakeholders for change (IOM,

2009; Blum et al., 2007).

Blum, Janet E. W. et al. (2007) Implementation of Low-Fat, Low-Sugar and Portion Controlled Nutrition Guidelines in Competitive Food Venues of Maine Public Schools. Journal of School Health, 77(10), p. 687-693.

Institute of Medicine. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx.

Does it affect education?• Research has demonstrated a link between poor

nutrition and poor school performance (Mirtcheva and Powell, 2009; IOM, 2009). Can result in issues as:– Reduced cognitive function.– More likely to repeat a grade.– Emotional and behavior issues– Irritable– Fatigued– Shortened attention spans.– Slower development in reading, writing, and math overall.

Institute of Medicine. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx.

Mirtcheva, D.M., and Powell, L.M. (2009) Participation in the National School Lunch Program. Importance of school-level and Neighborhood Contextual Factors. Journal of School Health, 79(10), p. 485-494.

What are we up against?• Trends for time spent at home include long hours engaged in (CDC,

2009):– TV watching– Video games– Computers– Snacking

• Competing with high-calorie, low nutritious foods (Fox, 2009; Briefel, 2009).– Increased access to less nutritious foods.– Advertisement and promotion of harmful choices widespread

Briefel RR, Crepinsek MK, Cabili C, Wilson A, Gleason PM. School food environments and practices affect Dietetic behaviors of US public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009; 109(Suppl 1):S91–S107.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) Promoting Healthier Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from heep://www.cdc.gov/Features/School Nutrition/

Fox MK, Dodd AH, Wilson A, and Gleason PM. Association between school food environment and practices and body mass index of US public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009; 109(2 suppl):S108–17.

What are we up against? (cont.)

• Children less likely to eat school lunch if fast food available (Mirtcheva & Powell, 2009).

• Modern school environments have been fully equipped with:– Fast-food vending options (e.g. sugar-filled sodas

and potato chips).– Fundraiser junk food options (e.g. baked cookies).– Unhealthy positive reinforcements (e.g. pizza

party)Mirtcheva, D.M., and Powell, L.M. (2009) Participation in the National School Lunch Program. Importance of school-level and Neighborhood Contextual Factors. Journal of School Health, 79(10), p. 485-494.

How can we improve?• Restrict access to harmful food choices.• Strong nutrition standards (IOM, 2009).• Limit competing foods to grains, fruits, veggies, and non

to low fat milk products (IOM, 2009).• Prohibit advertisement and promotion of harmful

choices (CDC, 2009).• Implement key nutrition and dietary behaviors as

required course (CDC, 2009).• Promote physical activity through required physical

education program.CDC. (2009) Availability of less nutritious snack foods and beverages in secondary schools—selected states, 2002–2008. MMWR 2009; 58 (Early Release).

Institute of Medicine. Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press; 2007. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx

Key Learning Goals• Huge need to DECREASE prevalence of obesity.

– Rising epidemic affecting student performance, confidence, learning capacity, behavior, and ultimately HEALTH STATUS.

• Improve dietary behaviors.– Increase access to fruits and vegetables– Decrease access to sugar sweet drinks– Decrease access to high energy dense food options

• Improve level of physical activity engaged in daily.– Must remember to counteract time spent at home TV watching,

video game playing, and web browsing.– Implement required physical education program

ReferencesBlum, Janet E. W. et al. (2007) Implementation of Low-Fat, Low-Sugar and Portion Controlled Nutrition

Guidelines in Competitive Food Venues of Maine Public Schools. Journal of School Health, 77(10), p. 687-693.

Briefel, R. R., Crepinsek, M. K., Cabili, C., Wilson, A., Gleason, P. M. School food environments and practices affect Dietetic behaviors of US public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009, 109(Suppl 1): S91–S107

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2009) Promoting Healthier Foods and Beverages in U.S. Schools. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from heep://www.cdc.gov/Features/School Nutrition/

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009) Availability of less nutritious snack foods and beverages in secondary schools—selected states, 2002–2008. MMWR 2009; 58 (Early Release).

Fox, M. K., Dodd, A. H., Wilson, A., and Gleason, P. M. Association between school food environment and practices and body mass index of US public school children. Journal of the American Dietetic Association 2009, 109(2 suppl):S108–17.

Institute of Medicine. (2007) Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way Toward Healthier Youth. Washington, DC: National Academies Press. Retrieved October 26, from http://www.iom.edu/en/Reports/2007/Nutrition-Standards-for-Foods-in-Schools-Leading-the-Way-toward-Healthier-Youth.aspx.

Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals. (2008) Louisiana Child Obesity Fact Sheet. Retrieved October 21, 2009 from http://www.dhh.state.la.us/

Mirtcheva, D.M., and Powell, L.M. (2009) Participation in the National School Lunch Program. Importance of school-level and Neighborhood Contextual Factors. Journal of School Health, 79(10), p. 485-494.

Sources for Further ReadingBenjamin, S.E. et al. (2009) Menus in child care: a comparison of state regulations

with national standards. Journal of American Diet Association, 109(1): p. 109-115. Retrieved from Pub Med October 26, 2009 @ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19103330?ordinalpos=1&itool=PPMCLayout.PPMCAppController.PPMCArticlePage.PPMCPubmedRA&linkpos=3

Healthy Meals Resource System www.healthymeals.nal.usda.govKaphingst, K.M. and Story, M. (2008) Child Care as an Untapped Setting for Obesity

Prevention: State Child Care Licensing Regulations Related to Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Media Use for Preschool-Aged Children in the United States. Preventing Chronic Disease, 6(1): A1. Retrieved October 26, 2009 from Pub Med Central at http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2644584/

Kids Nutrition Resources www.kidshealth.orgLouisiana Action for Healthy Kids www.louisianaschools.net/lde/nutritioned/1860Team Nutrition Homepage www.mypyramidforkids.govUnited States Department of Agriculture- For Kids www.mypyramid.gov/kids/

END OF PRESENTATION!

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