Here you will find recent news articles written specifically for
the ACFN Web site.|
Nutrition Games Get Students Active
The relay races are among many components developed for the pilot program, which blends nutrition and physical education. During the games, students are physically active while they are mentally engaged in learning how different foods fit into the various MyPyramid food categories. Nutrition coaches, who are registered dietitians selected to lead the program’s implementation in the participating schools, are responsible for facilitating the games and helping students to understand how the various food groups are related to a healthy eating plan. To play the game, students are divided into teams and take turns racing to uncover food images that are spread across the gymnasium floor. Inexpensive materials, such as coffee can lids, are being used to cover the food images during the game. The team that finds the most items that correspond to the food group they have been assigned is declared the winner. Students participating in the games learn valuable lessons about nutrition education that are also reinforced throughout the school by the pilot program’s interactive computer application, posters, school announcements and cafeteria table tent cards. The games were adapted from Game On! The Ultimate Wellness Challenge activities developed by Action for Healthy Kids. More information about the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot is available at: www.acfn.org/pressrelease/100907/. |
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Kraft and Coca-Cola Offer Triple Play Parents Game Plan
The Game Plan is adapted from materials used in the Triple Play program, which is the largest health and wellness endeavor undertaken by the BGCA and the first youth-focused program of its kind to be developed in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “The Triple Play Parents Game Plan was developed as a tool to assist families to get fit and stay healthy. It was designed to help parents keep their children motivated and to support youth development,” said Patricia Garza Kraft Foods associate director of corporate community involvement. Parents will find a host of activities in the Game Plan that can be incorporated into daily routines. The Plan’s holistic approach builds knowledge about good nutrition, increases understanding that physical fitness is an essential part of life and teaches that leisure and social activities can have a positive influence on youth by developing social skills and enhancing creativity through play, Garza explained. The Game Plan uses the USDA MyPyramid as the foundation of its nutrition lessons and teaches that physical activity should accompany healthy eating plans. To download a copy of the Game Plan, visit www.bgca.org/programs/tripleplay.asp. |
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Regular Exercise Shown to Improve Thinking
A new study presented during The Obesity Society’s Annual Scientific Meeting in New Orleans, Oct. 20-24, suggests that regular aerobic exercise can improve children’s decision-making functions and may be a critical aspect of enhancing children’s cognitive development. The research, funded by the National Institutes of Health, involved approximately 200 sedentary, overweight children ages 7 to 11. Lead investigator Catherine Davis, a clinical health psychologist at the Medical College of Georgia, and her colleagues worked with a control group and two active groups of children for three months during the study. One active group exercised for 20 minutes after school, while the other raised their heart rates for 40 minutes after school. The control group did no after-school exercise. All of the study participants learned about nutrition and the benefits of exercise. The research found that when compared to children in the control group, those in the 40-minute activity group showed significant improvement on tests of executive function, which include skills such as decision-making, planning and organizing, focusing on schoolwork and using skills to achieve goals. When tested, children in the 40-minute activity group showed increases of approximately four points on a cognitive-performance scale, while their counterparts in the 20-minute activity group showed gains of about half that. Small improvements were found in math achievement for both active groups; however, no improvements were found in reading skills. Brain scans performed on the children who were exercising revealed increased activity in regions of the brain responsible for executive function, and researchers pointed out that similar animal research has shown that regular exercise leads to blood vessel and neuron growth in the brain. The results of the study call for further analysis of the subject, but add to the evidence suggesting that the benefits of physical activity are far reaching and include increases in cognitive development. More information is available at: my.mcg.edu. |
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Emotional Factors Related to Increased Weight Regain
Researchers at The Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center found that dieters who eat in response to external factors had fewer problems with their weight loss, when compared to those who eat in response to internal or emotional factors. The study, published in the October 2007 issue of Obesity, found that dieters who were more likely to eat in response to emotional factors also had more difficulty keeping weight off than dieters who tended to eat as a result of external factors, such as celebrations or other social occasions. The findings are particularly important due to the fact that weight regain after successful loss is one of the most challenging aspects in the fight to reduce obesity. “We found that the more people report eating in response to thoughts and feelings, such as, ‘when I feel lonely, I console myself by eating,’ the less weight they lost in a behavioral weight loss program. In addition, amongst successful weight losers, those who report emotional eating are more likely to regain,” said lead author Heather Niemeier, Ph.D., of The Miriam Hospital’s Weight Control and Diabetes Research Center and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. The study was conducted with two groups of participants: one group was participating in a behavior weight loss program and the other included more than 3,000 adults who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept the weight off for more than a year. Using responses from the Eating Inventory, which is widely used in obesity research, Niemeier’s team found that in both research groups internal disinhibition was a significant predictor of weight loss over time. Conversely, external disinhibition was not found to be a predictor of weight loss or weight regain in either group. Internal disinhibition is associated with feelings, thoughts and emotional factors related to eating, while external disinhibition includes experiences, events and external conditions, such as being with someone who is overeating. The results of the research also showed that internal disinhibition was a better predictor of weight loss overtime than depression, binge eating and perceived stress. The study’s authors said that the research demonstrates a need to pay more attention to internal factors that trigger eating and that modifying treatments accordingly could lead to greater success in keeping weight off over time. The National Institutes of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases of the National Institutes of Health funded the research. More information is available at: www.lifespan.org/news/2007/11/09/emotional-eaters-susceptible-to-weight-regain. |
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Healthy Schools Partnership Pilot Blends Nutrition and Physical Education
Informative cafeteria cards have been placed on the lunchroom tables and in the lunch line where students pick up their meals. The cafeteria cards are just one of many ways that nutrition coaches working in the schools are teaching students to balance what they eat with their levels of physical activity. The nutrition coaches are registered dietitians selected with guidance from the ADAF to work side-by-side with the physical education teachers and other school staff to implement the Partnership's program in four Kansas City-area pilot schools. Primarily, the seven nutrition coaches implementing the pilot are working with students in PE4life's fitness centers and the schools' gymnasiums where innovative fitness equipment such as Dance Dance Revolution and other motion response video games, climbing walls and interactive light walls are used to engage students and motive them to become more active. While students are participating in some of their favorite activities, they also gain exposure to information such as how to read food labels and understand MyPyramid, as well as how to make healthy food and beverage choices and to use food as fuel for life. The program's new approach to blending nutrition education with physical education has attracted interest from a variety of health care, civic, community and business leaders, so during a recent site visit from the ACFN Executive Board and the ADAF, students were eager and accustomed to demonstrating how they use "The Filling Station" software that was designed to reinforce the pilot's lessons. As students rotated around different fitness stations, they logged on to "The Filling Station" with the assistance of their nutrition coaches and worked through a series of questions related to the week's nutrition education topic. Creative relay-race activities that integrate nutrition topics have also been popular with students participating in the pilot. At Woodland Elementary School, students playing games adapted from Action for Healthy Kids' Game On! The Ultimate Wellness Challenge took turns racing to uncover food items that matched with the various MyPyramid food groups. During the relay, students were physically active while focusing on nutrition topics. The Partnership has also developed daily nutrition tips and newsletter articles that help to reach students throughout the day and also involve their parents in the program. For more information about the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot, please visit www.acfn.org/pressrelease/100907/. |
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Sara Lee Ultimate Lunch Switcheroo Contest
Sara Lee's Soft and Smooth bread line has a taste and texture similar to a traditional white bread but with the added bonus of whole grain nutrition. Of wheat bread sales in the region, just 37 percent is 100% whole wheat bread. Sara Lee hopes that this contest will help consumers learn about the benefits of whole grain products and provide them helpful information as they navigate the bread aisle. "This contest is a great way to reach a wide variety of consumers from school-age kids who play a big role in what they take for lunch as well as parents who want to learn what's best to feed their children," says Sara Matheu, director of Media Development of Sara Lee Food and Beverage. The essay entries will be judged on creativity, originality and how well the student addresses the topic of how a lunch make over could help make classmates happier and healthier. For more information about the Soft and Smooth Bread Ultimate Lunch Switcheroo Contest, please visit www.thejoyofeating.com/lunch. |
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FIT Kids Act Would Increase Physical Activity in Schools
In an effort to help the fight against obesity, Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) recently introduced the Fitness Integrated with Teaching (FIT) Kids Act, which would amend the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to support physical education for all public school children, through grade 12, and ensure they receive important health and nutritional information. "We have seen physical education slip out of schools, taking away a critical time where students learn how to move and to love to move," said Dr. Susan Finn, CEO, ACFN. "Finding a balance between what you eat and what you do is critical to living a healthy lifestyle, and physical education is a very important part of this equation. Exposing children to nutrition and physical education in schools will help them learn the value of leading a healthy lifestyle early on in life, and I am thrilled about the introduction of this bill, which would have a huge impact by working through NCLB." According to a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2000, fewer than 10 percent of elementary, junior high and high schools offer daily PE or its equivalent for the entire school year for all students. In addition, a 2002 survey reported that more than 60 percent of children do not participate in any organized physical activity outside of school hours. "These are striking numbers to see when we know all the health benefits of physical education, and beyond that we know the potential for positive effects on academic performance, anxiety and depression," added Finn. "Sen. Harkin's bill would also support the efforts we've been making through the Healthy Schools Partnership," said Finn. "Schools provide a structured environment in which young children spend a significant portion of their time — this is the logical place to incorporate physical and nutrition education." Through the Healthy Schools Partnership, ACFN has made an effort to include physical and nutrition education in schools. With the American Dietetic Association Foundation and PE4life, ACFN has developed a pilot program in four Kansas City metro-area schools that teaches energy balance to students by using Registered Dietitians (RDs) in the classroom. In the pilot, RDs work side-by-side with PE teachers in this 12-week pilot to communicate nutrition messaging during activity time. The Senate version of the FIT Kids Act is a companion to the House of Representatives version introduced by Reps. Kind (D-Wis.), Wamp (R-Tenn.) and Inslee (D-Wash.) in August. For more information about the FIT Kids Act, visit: http://harkin.senate.gov/news.cfm?id=285493. |
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Healthy Schools Partnership Reaches Youth through Popular Artist Jerry Craft
"The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition is pleased that Jerry Craft has contributed his creativity and talents to the educational materials developed for the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot," said Dr. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO. "His illustrations depict the diversity of the students who attend schools in the Kansas City area, and help to attract the attention of youth and draw them in to the program's lessons on balancing caloric intake with energy expenditure." Characters from Craft's Mama's Boyz series and a variety of images of healthy foods and beverages were created by the artist to enhance the educational resources developed for the pilot. The resources include an interactive computer game called "The Filling Station," posters on a variety of nutrition topics and information cards that are being displayed in school cafeterias. Craft's illustrations project a youthful style and a popular appeal that supports the pilot's unique approach to teaching nutrition education together with PE4life's proven, innovative model. Jerry Craft is an award-winning illustrator whose Mama's Boyz cartoon strips are sent to 1,500 newspapers worldwide through King Features Syndicate. His illustrations are published in his books "Mama's Boyz: Home Schoolin'" and "Mama's Boyz: As American as Sweet Potato Pie." Among his other professional accomplishments, Craft's work has been published in the best selling books, "Chicken Soup for the African American Women's Soul" and "Chicken Soup for the African American Soul." For more information, visit www.mamasboyz.com. |
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Childhood Obesity Prevention Summit Connects Leadership
The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition joined elected officials and other policy-leaders at the Childhood Obesity Prevention Summit held on Oct. 18 and 19 by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Leadership for Healthy Communities. The summit, convened in Washington, D.C., brought participants together to discuss innovative partnerships, promising practices and policy-relevant research that could be beneficial to leaders who are developing and implementing programs and policies to create healthier communities. "Sharing knowledge and collaborating on efforts is critical as communities across the nation continue to focus more resources on finding ways to make cities and neighborhoods healthier places to live, especially for children most at risk of obesity," said Dr. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO. "The Healthy Communities Childhood Obesity Prevention Summit provided a valuable opportunity for civic leaders and policy-makers to work together to find solutions that will make our communities better places for our children." Topics addressed during the summit focused on preventing childhood obesity among populations that are more likely to suffer from the epidemic, and analyzing the disparities that exist between populations with lower and higher income levels. Among other topics, panelists also outlined challenges and opportunities related to balancing public health policies with global energy, environmental and climate change concerns. |
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CDC Review of School Health Polices Shows Need for Continued Improvements
The School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) 2006, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that U.S. schools are improving their policies to make schools healthier for students. The SHPPS has been conducted every six years since 1994 it is the largest study of its kind and takes a comprehensive look at school health policies and programs. The study was published in the October 2007 issue of the Journal of School Health and found that states requiring more healthy selections in school vending machines increased from 8 percent in 2000 to 32 percent in 2006, while school districts improving their vending machine policies increased from 4 percent to 30 percent. The study also looked at food preparation practices in schools and found that the percentage of schools using part-skim or low-fat cheese instead of regular cheese had increased from 31 percent in 2000 to 45.9 percent in 2006. A greater proportion of schools were also found to trim fat from meat or use lean meat, as well as to remove skin from poultry or use skinless poultry. Schools were also found to have better policies on physical education and activity than in previous years, though the CDC notes that school health and wellness policies and programs still need more attention. The study found a greater emphasis had been placed on regularly scheduled recess, staff development in specific areas for physical education teachers, and requiring physical education teachers to have undergraduate or graduate training in the field, but 22 percent of schools had no requirements for students to take physical education. The percentage of school districts requiring elementary schools to teach physical education increased from 82.6 percent to 93.3 percent between 2000 and 2006; however, only 4 percent of elementary schools, 8 percent of middle schools and 2 percent of high schools were found to meet criteria for providing daily physical education or its equivalent for the entire school year for all grade levels. Improvements had also been made to provide funding and offer staff development on nutrition and dietary behavior to health education teachers. For more information about the 2006 SHPPS study, please visit: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/shpps/. |
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ACFN, PE4life, ADAF Launch Healthy Schools Partnership Pilot The Healthy Schools Partnership between the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), PE4life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) this week launched a pilot program in four Kansas City-area schools. The pilot will help address the childhood obesity epidemic by incorporating nutrition education into PE4life's proven model of getting kids active and instilling in them the lifetime benefit of health and wellness. Through the existing PE4life model, students are inspired to become active and aware of healthy living through novel physical education programs that offer a variety of fun sports and fitness activities. To deliver the program's educational components, seven nutrition coaches and registered dietitians are working side-by-side with the school's physical education teachers to communicate energy balance messaging to the students. Using nutrition coaches in schools is unique to the program, and is designed to model many of the premier fitness centers in the nation. "The Healthy Schools Partnership provides an opportunity to make a substantial reduction in childhood obesity rates by developing a replicable approach to providing comprehensive, measurable and sustainable healthy lifestyle education initiatives in the nation's schools" said Dr. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO. "We believe that the future educational model should embrace the concept of energy balance and teach the two subjects, food intake and energy expenditure, together." ACFN was instrumental in bringing the organizations together for this pilot, which provides a comprehensive program incorporating the U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPyramid and focuses on teaching the concept of balancing food intake with energy expenditure. The content of the pilot's nutrition curriculum is focused on teaching the importance of calories and energy balance, and its delivery fits seamlessly into PE4life's proven model, without taking away from activity time. "The American Dietetic Association Foundation is thrilled to help incorporate the nutrition education part of the equation into these schools," said Mary Beth Whalen, executive director of the ADAF. "We have long supported the idea of teaching children the importance of healthy lifestyles through the ADAF's Healthy Weight for Kids program, and we are excited that seven ADA members will be participating in the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot. Registered dietitians are a valuable resource and their roles in the pilot will be critical to the overall success of the program." In addition to drawing resources from successful program models, the Partnership developed several unique components to reinforce the pilot's lessons, including "The Filling Station" interactive kiosk, posters and information cards. "The Filling Station" kiosk, developed through collaboration with software developer Immersion Media, is an interactive application integrated into physical education classes to deliver program information to students through a question and answer format that is aligned with weekly nutrition topics. The Partnership commissioned syndicated cartoonist Jerry Craft, creator of the Mama's Boyz series, to develop illustrations for "The Filling Station", as well as the other informative materials that support the program's lessons. "We have seen a great amount of success so far with our PE4life program in Kansas City, and we are eager to build on our foundation there by adding nutrition education to four pilot schools," said Anne Flannery, PE4life CEO. "Offering our students a nutrition component will help them understand the importance of balancing activity with a healthy diet. This is an important lesson and we are excited to help communicate this message through the Healthy Schools Partnership." The schools participating in the pilot include Blue Valley West High School of the Blue Valley School District and the following schools from the Kansas City, Missouri School District: Lincoln College Preparatory Academy, Pitcher Academy and Woodland Elementary School. More than 1,000 students in 5th through 9th grades will take part in this 12-week pilot during the fall 2007. |
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Unilever's New Healthy BMI Guidelines
Unilever recently announced that its brand directors and agencies around the globe will be using guidelines for their models that are in line with the United Nations classification of a healthy weight, including a BMI between 18.5 and 25. "As President of Unilever's Home and Personal Care Division, I want our advertising to reflect Unilever's mission to add Vitality to life with brands that help people to look good, feel good and get more out of life. All of our advertising is intended to relate to real people with realistic images of beauty,"said Ralph Kuglar. Unilever felt the need to change the BMI requirements because endorsing unhealthy body images is not in line with Unilever's Vitality mission. While there were no previous industry guidelines in this area, Unilever wanted to establish concrete criteria on the use of healthy body images. After consultations with dietitians and organizations with experience in this field, they developed guidelines based on the measures defined by the United Nations for a healthy weight to be sure to avoid problems associated with being underweight or overweight. Unilever realizes how important it is for all Americans to choose diets that promote overall health and wellness, and their Nutrition Enhancement Program has not only created product specific benchmarks based on U.S. and international dietary guidelines, but it has also established "The Eat Smart and Drink Smart" logos to help consumers easily make smarter foods or beverages choices. More than 16,000 Unilever products have been assessed through this program in the past two years. Kuglar reminds the public that, "Unilever's ongoing commitment to responsible marketing means that we review our communications to consumers on a regular basis. Healthy marketing and advertising isn't just about our policy on size zero models but ensuring that all our communications are governed by appropriate guidelines." To find out more about this initiative, please visit: http://www.unilever.com/ |
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Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE)
The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) attended the conference to participate as a health and wellness exhibitor and to inform attendees about the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot launched in four schools in the greater Kansas City metro area this fall. The Healthy Schools Partnership pilot, developed by the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), PE4Life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF), will combine nutrition education into an already successful physical education program to teach students the concept of energy balance. ACFN CEO and ADA Foundation Chair, Dr. Susan Finn, announced the pilot at the Members Showcase as well as at the ADA Foundation Gala dinner. The Healthy Schools Partnership was met with great enthusiasm from the attendees where participants had the opportunity to meet six of the seven Nutrition Coaches and learn about Partnership details. The ACFN booth received a large amount of attention as well, where ACFN staff briefed attendees about the pilot and ACFN's Blueprints for Action. At the booth, ACFN shared its Blueprints for Action with Expo participants, which aim to help African-American and Hispanic communities build, expand and promote programs designed to help families adopt and maintain healthier lifestyles. ACFN Advisory Board member and African-American Blueprint author, Fabiola Gaines, as well as LAHIDAN member Francisca Fernandez, both joined the ACFN booth to share their insight about the Blueprints and the importance of cultural relevance when you are working to improve health and wellness. For more information about FNCE, please visit http://www.eatright.org/ |
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Importance of School Breakfast Programs According to a report released by the California Food Policy Advocates, many students in California are starting the day without breakfast. The federally-funded School Breakfast Program provides breakfast to students in school everyday, but participation in the program is voluntary and enrollment is typically left up to individual principals rather than school districts. According to the report, only 35 percent of CA students who enroll in the free and reduced lunch program also take part in the same plan for breakfast, compared to the national average of 45 percent. Studies such as one conducted by Dr. Alan Meyers, a pediatrician at Boston Medical Center, have demonstrated improvements in attendance, behavior and test scores in a population of low-income children when school breakfast was offered. In addition to academic performance, studies have also shown that breakfast improves overall health benefits and decreases school absenteeism. Children who eat breakfast exhibit better nutritional profiles to those who skip the meal, specifically, significantly higher intakes of fiber, calcium, iron and other micronutrients. "We know that breakfast helps children perform better academically and improves their overall focus in school," said Dr. Susan Finn, CEO, ACFN. "With these facts being proven over and over, it is clear that school officials should work to make the School Breakfast Program available in schools, and encourage families and students to participate on a consistent basis." For more information about he School Breakfast program, visit http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/breakfast/, or to view the full report from the California Food Policy Advocates, please visit http://www.cfpa.net/. |
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Study Links Rise in Blood Pressure to Increases in Childhood Obesity A study of national health surveys between 1963 and 2002 found that after decades of decline, children and adolescents are seeing a rise in their blood pressure levels. The study, published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association, links the increase to sharply rising obesity rates. "General obesity, called 'overweight' in childhood, increased over time in all racial and ethnic groups," said Rebecca Din-Dzietham, M.D., M.P.H., Ph.D., lead author of the study and associate professor of community health and preventive medicine at MSM in Atlanta, Ga. "The prevalence of childhood obesity drifted slightly and steadily higher after the 1963 survey and increased significantly during the 1976-1980 survey period with a sharp rise after that time." According to Din-Dzietham, each one centimeter increase in a child's waist circumference correlated to a 10 percent increase in the likelihood of high blood pressure, and a five percent increase in the likelihood of pre-high blood pressure. Researchers analyzed data from seven U.S. government surveys conducted in children and adolescents ages eight to 17 between 1963 and 2002. They examined trends in the age-adjusted prevalence of high blood pressure and pre-high blood pressure in boys and girls. They also looked at trends in various racial/ethnic groups and the impact of increasing obesity on those trends. The prevalence of high blood pressure and pre-high blood pressure in children and adolescents showed a downward trend between 1963 and the 1988-1994 survey. But the trend began to reverse through 2002. Rising obesity rates have already been linked in youth to traditionally adult dieses, such as diabetes, and the increase in high blood pressure in youth is another disturbing trend that threatens the long-term health of young people. Obesity and high blood pressure are also associated with other specific health risks such as cancer, heart attack and stoke. Editor's note: This article has been adapted from a Morehouse School of Medicine news release. http://www.msm.edu/News/News_Index/August_7,_2007.htm |
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Peanut Butter Helps Feed Malnourished Children Peanut butter has been found to be a simple way to help feed the malnourished children in Africa. In a recent US professors study, nearly 3,000 malnourished children were treated with an enriched peanut butter mixture and approximately 89 per cent of the severely malnourished children and 85 per cent of the moderately malnourished children recovered. On the other hand, the recovery rate for children given the standard therapy methods is less than 50 per cent. The peanut butter mixture is a combination of peanuts, powdered milk, vegetable oil, sugar, vitamins and minerals and is then given to mothers to take back to their children at home. This mixture is a Ready-to-Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF) and can be manufactured locally with importation of only the additional vitamins and minerals. For example, The Peanut Butter Project currently produces about 270 tonnes of the mixture in Malwai each year. "The peanut butter feeding has been a quantum leap in feeding malnourished children in Africa. The recovery rates are a remarkable improvement from standard therapy," Dr Mark Manary, a paediatrics professor at Washington University in St Louis, said in a statement. Manary also said that the peanut butter mixture keeps well, is convenient and has a high energy density. The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition has two member companies that produce peanut butter, J.M. Smucker's brand Jif and Unilever's brand Skippy. For more information about the Peanut Butter Project, please visit http://www.projectpeanutbutter.org/index.htm |
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School Nutrition Association (SNA) Finds Districts Increasing Healthy Options The School Nutrition Association (SNA) Operations Report on "The State of School Nutrition 2007", released in early August, found that there is currently an emphasis on healthy school environments and increasing the availability of nutritious options for students. SNA found that many of the positive changes can be attributed in part to the achievements of local wellness policies enacted this past school year. "The findings from this survey are a clear indication of the tremendous strides made by school nutrition directors, managers and employees nationwide to help children make the right food choices," said School Nutrition Association president Mary Hill, SNS, and executive director of Child Nutrition Services for Jackson Public Schools in Mississippi. The survey addressed a wide variety of topics, such as demographics and operational parameters, programs and policies, breakfast and lunch service types, food safety measures, foodservice budget issues, marketing and customer service and pressing concerns. Respondents acknowledged funding as the most vital issue facing school nutrition directors nationwide. Childhood overweight, the cost of food/food preparation and implementation of local wellness policies were seen as the next most pressing issues. The survey concluded that schools have a more focused effort on an overall healthier environment. The survey showed that many healthy foods options are offered in school food service and nutrition programs, including: Fat-free (skim) or low-fat milk, 97 percent; fresh fruits/vegetables, 96 percent; salad bar/pre-packaged salads, 88 percent; yogurt/yogurt drinks, 81 percent; three or more milk flavors, 74 percent; low-fat prepared/packaged foods, 65 percent; from-scratch bakery items, 63 percent; vegetarian meals (includes egg and dairy),51 percent. Data also showed that more than half of the districts, 62 percent, are utilizing an automated payment system. This is not only more convenient for the school system, but it also allows parents to have information about what their children are purchasing. The survey was conducted in the spring of 2007 and represents the feedback of almost 1,200 school foodservice directors from districts in 49 states. In an effort to embrace overall healthy school environments, the Healthy Schools partnership pilot, developed by the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), PE4Life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) is working to implement a cross discipline "energy balance" approach in several schools this fall by focusing on both on energy intake and energy expenditure. Physical education teachers and nutrition professionals will work side by side in the schools to implement strategies to motivate students to be more active and to eat a more balanced and nutritious diet. To see more findings from this the State of School Nutrition 2007 report, please visit http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Index.aspx?id=2485 |
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Jif Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich Contest
"The kitchen is a great place for parents to spend time with their children. The kitchen can be used to teach kids everything from nutrition and portion control to math and measurement. Most importantly, the kitchen is a great place for children to explore their senses and excite their own creativity. Research also shows that when parents involve kids in preparing meals, they are more likely to eat them and try new foods," says Maribeth Badertscher, Director, Corporate Communications, The J.M. Smucker Company. Jif uses five criteria to determine the overall winner of the most creative sandwich. They are: creativity, nutritional balance, taste, appearance and ease of preparation. Throughout the past five years of the competition, Jif has seen many different variations of the "classic" peanut butter sandwich. Kids have been inspired by all different types of culinary styles. For example, last year's grand-prize sandwich was inspired by 12 year-old Alexandra Yoder's love of sushi when she created "Peanut Butter Rolls - Sushi Style". These sandwiches are not only fun, but also healthy. Peanut butter is cholesterol free and contains zero grams of trans-fat per serving. Also, just one serving of peanut butter, two tablespoons, provides eight grams of protein, two grams of fiber, 10 percent of the USDA Reference Daily Intake (RDI) of vitamin E and 12 percent of the RDI of magnesium. Jif hopes to continue this fun peanut butter sandwich contest for years to come. When Badertscher was asked what she hoped to see in the future in terms of this contest she replied, "[I hope to see] thousands of parents spending more time with their children in the kitchen inventing delicious peanut butter creations." J.M. Smucker also has an internal Food and Health Task Force that regularly investigates health, nutrition and wellness issues that could impact their products or consumers. In January, this task force was the driving force behind the removal of trans-fat from J.M. Smucker�s entire line of Crisco shortening products. To learn more about the contest, please visit http://jif.com/promos/contest/default.asp |
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Hamburger Helper Lends a "Helping Hand" For the second year in a row, General Mills has launched a program that links its Hamburger Helper brand to lending a helping hand to communities in need around the nation. Last year, the "MyHometown Helper" program donated approximately $133,000 in grants to 33 towns and cities across the country to help with community projects, no matter how big or small. Last year they helped Bennett High School in Colorado install lights into their football stadium and funded Bay High Basketball Team in Mississippi to replace their basketball equipment which was destroyed during Hurricane Katrina. All entries submitted will be posted online and can be seen by the general public. General Mills reminds you to forward a link to your application to friends and family so they can add their comments and, more importantly, show their support. Grants will be awarded based on the merit of the project, including its impact and support within the community. General Mills encourages all communities who are looking for a "helping hand" to submit entries online by September 30, 2007. Awards range from $500 to $15,000. They will award the grants by November 15, 2007 and will post the results online. "There are many towns and cities across the country looking to improve their communities, whether it's revamping the town library or beautifying the streets," said Hyun Mee Graves, marketing manager for Hamburger Helper. "We're committed to helping these communities and want to find those that need 'a hand' the most." For more information about the "MyHometown Helper" program, please visit http://www.hamburgerhelper.com/ |
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Pick Up the Cell Phone, Drop the Pounds PACE (Patient-centered Assessment and Counseling for Exercise and Nutrition) is conducting a study in California which uses Web and cell-phone based prompts to urge overweight adolescents who are at risk for Type 2 Diabetes to make permanent changes in diet and behavior, without drugs or added costs. The program sends healthy eating tips and activity suggestions to participants via cell-phone and/or email. Messages sent inform recipients about the benefits of nutritious foods such as fruits or vegetables and healthy activities such as biking or rollerblading. In conjunction with the healthy alert system, health coaches also send challenges via email which ask the teens to set and strive for certain goals. The program, which is still enrolling volunteers, has several requirements for participants who must be between the ages of 12-16 and live in San Diego County, but the most compelling necessity is that one parent must be willing to participate in the study along with the teen. "I think it's clear that the adolescents who are going to be most successful are the ones who have support from the people they are living with," said PACE project co-investigator Michael Gottschalk, M.D., Ph.D., Chief, Division of Endocrinology, and associate clinical professor, Department of Pediatrics, UCSD School of Medicine. "This is an environmental change and a lot of times, it's the environment itself that is creating part of the problem." PACE has also conducted the "mDIET" study which is a similar study targeted at men and women ages 22-55 years old which will remind participants via cell phone to make wise nutritional choices throughout the day. "It seems like everybody has a cell phone. Those who do usually carry it with them at all times," explained mDIET coordinator Lindsay W. Dillon, M.P.H., C.H.E.S. "We want to see if we can use that same technology to get people to think differently." For more information about these studies, please visit http://www.paceproject.org |
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Teaching Healthy Habits According to a new study in Finland, young children who are taught to eat a low-fat diet often carry these healthy eating habits into the teenage years and adulthood, lowering cholesterol along the way. This study followed 1,062 children starting at the age of 7 months and reported results on the children at age 14. Approximately half of the children and their families were counseled to shift fat intake from animal-based saturated fats to healthier unsaturated fats, and the remainder did not get specific diet advice. Specifically, the families were instructed to give children skim milk beginning at age 1, keep daily cholesterol intake at less than 200 milligrams and aim for a fat intake of 30 to 35 percent of their daily calories. By the age of 7, the diet information was aimed more toward the children instead of their parents. The study found that children begin forming their eating habits in childhood and that those who were taught to include more healthy fats in their diets (fats from fish, nuts, seeds and oils from plants) had slightly lower cholesterol levels compared to those who ate an unrestricted diet. The study found that the counseled children had diets lower in total fat and saturated fat and higher in protein and carbohydrates than the comparison group. Researchers found no differences between the groups in height or weight. For more information about this study, visit: http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/CIRCULATIONAHA.107.699447v1 |
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Municipal and School Leaders Collaborate on Wellness Initiatives The National League of Cities and the American Association of School Administrators have partnered to supply technical assistance to six city-school teams to collaborate on local wellness policies. At the inaugural meeting held with representatives from the participating cities and school districts on July 16-18 in Washington, D.C., a variety of organizations, including the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), provided resource materials offering information on best practices and model programs. "Reducing the rates at which childhood obesity continues to escalate requires the kind of collaboration among cities, school districts and advocacy organizations that the National League of Cities and the American Association of School Administrators technical assistance initiative allows," said Dr. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO. "The six cities selected to participate have taken an important step toward developing and sustaining initiatives that will help students avoid the health-related risks associated with obesity." The cities and districts competitively selected to participate in the technical assistance program are Charleston, S.C.; Jackson, Tenn.; La Mesa, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; San Antonio, Texas; and Savannah, Ga. The technical assistance program is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The meeting brought together wellness teams in order to achieve the mutual goals of supporting healthy children and healthy communities. Attendees at the "City and School Leaders Collaborating on Local Wellness Policies" event reported they were seeking assistance in multiple areas such as developing government affairs committees to address legislative and policy issues, addressing "No Child Left Behind" and the 2007 Farm Bill as they relate to wellness policies and establishing joint-use agreements with municipal parks and recreation departments. The city-school teams also worked together on establishing programs to offer breakfast in the classroom for young students, identify models for program evaluation, identify components of successful models and increase collaboration between city governments and school districts. For more information on The National League of Cities, please visit www.nlc.org. For more information on The American Association of School Administrators, please visit www.aasa.org. |
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Shaq's Childhood Obesity Challenge Shaquille O'Neal, Miami Heat basketball center, is working hard to encourage overweight kids and parents to eat better and become more physically active. To fight the current obesity epidemic, O'Neal has produced and is currently starring in a six-part reality series called "Shaq's Big Challenge" on ABC. Joined by a team of medical, nutrition and fitness experts, O'Neal is working with six obese middle school students from Southern Florida for nine months. The professionals put the children on intense exercise programs and eating regimens. O'Neal also plans to meet with Florida Governor Charlie Crist in an attempt to implement more nutritious school lunches and required physical education programs. Pediatric gastroenterologist William Muioos of Miami Children's Hospital, who monitored the health of the kids in the challenge, says the show illustrates the "extensive struggle these kids went through to lose weight, even with all the support they had." Growing up with a tall and awkward body shape, O'Neal says he can relate to these children because he knows that it's like to be bullied and feel depressed. He credits his avoidance of obesity to staying active by running and playing basketball. The key to weight-loss success for kids is "believing in yourself, eating the right foods and being active," O'Neal says. For more information on "Shaq's Big Challenge," please visit http://abc.go.com/primetime/shaqsbigchallenge/index. |
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Pepperidge Farm Stresses the Importance of Whole Grains
Juli Mandel Sloves, Senior Manager of Nutrition & Wellness Communications at Campbell, says that, "Campbell supports and promotes the U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans and also works with organizations such as the American Diabetes Association (ADA) to raise awareness of the importance of a healthy lifestyle to reduce risk for disease." Pepperidge Farm provides a great number of options for filling the U.S. Department of Agriculture's MyPyramid recommended three-ounce servings of whole-grain foods a day, which include 100 percent whole-wheat mini bagels, 100 percent whole-wheat English muffins, whole-grain croutons, whole-wheat pasta and whole-wheat tortillas. Campbell has also created other healthy options to show their commitment to overall wellness. They have focused on developing a number of reduced sodium soups, including Campbell's Healthy Request soups in cans and now in microwaveable bowls. In their beverage group, Campbell has reduced the sodium in their V8 100 percent vegetable juice to the heart-healthy level and also introduced more varieties of the V8 V.Fusion juice, which is 100 percent fruit and vegetable juice. Sloves reminds consumers that, "all [of the above products] are great ways to get more vegetables and fruit into your diet." Campbell's commitment to wellness extends beyond efforts to educate Americans about the role of their products in a balanced diet. Through the www.campbellwellness.com Web site, they provide recipes, tips and suggestions for weight management. They are also a founding co-sponsor of Shaping America's Youth and are one of five companies to work with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. For Pepperidge Farm's full recipe collection of delicious and nutritious foods using whole-grain products, please visit: www.pfwholegrains.com. |
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Ten States Awarded $100,000 Grants by NGA to Combat Obesity On July 12, ten states were awarded $100,000 by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center) to fund childhood obesity prevention efforts in schools and communities. The ten states include Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. The states will use the funding for the development of strategies to prevent childhood obesity by instituting social changes, influencing private-sector efforts and leading public-sector policy initiatives. Funding for these grants was made possible with the generous support of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The NGA Center's Healthy Kids, Healthy America program aims to motivate and guide action from governors and senior state leaders, help create an action plan for advancing obesity prevention and promote state leadership by encouraging private sectors to promote obesity prevention policies. "Increasing physical activity and educating our children about proper nutrition are fundamental strategies to reversing the rising obesity epidemic," said John Thomasian, director of the NGA Center. "The challenge for states is to develop interventions that have the greatest impact, and these awards will help states in their planning efforts." For more information, visit www.nga.org/center/healthyamerica. |
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Tips to Keep
Your Kids Active This Summer As youth across the nation begin their summer vacations, the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) encourages families to focus on healthy lifestyle choices by including healthy eating and physical activity as a part of each day. Taking action this summer will help prevent childhood obesity and help set children on a path toward a healthy lifestyle. “With one-third of youth classified as overweight, obese or at risk of becoming obese, the summer is an excellent time to focus on increasing physical activity and making a commitment to healthy lifestyle changes and healthy eating patterns,” said Dr. Sue Finn, CEO of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition. “In order to avoid the serious health related risks associated with obesity, better dietary choices are needed alongside more physical activity.” The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition promotes healthy living and aims to inform parents and families about what they can do to lead active lifestyles. ACFN recommends a number of tips to help stay active, including fitting activity into your day, every day. Every activity we do during the day could be made into an opportunity to get moving. Encourage your kids to walk to their friend’s house or the pool instead of getting a ride. Simple tasks like taking the stairs instead of the elevator can help burn calories. Additionally, with the sun shining for the summer months, make a decision to turn off all kids’ electronics for at least an hour each day. Get your child unglued from the screen by planning a neighborhood scavenger hunt walk for your family or a family day of planting in the yard. Read the full story |
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Healthy Schools Partnership: Washington, DC Briefings
In order to brief the Kansas and Missouri delegations and several government agencies about the Healthy Schools Partnership, Susan Finn, ACFN CEO, and Alison Kretser, ACFN Foundation Executive Director and GMA/FPA Senior Director of Scientific and Nutrition Policy, headed to Capitol Hill in late May. The Healthy Schools Partnership is a joint effort by ACFN, the American Dietetic Association Foundation and PE4Life, which will allow physical education teachers and nutrition professionals to work side by side in three Kansas City area schools to implement strategies to motivate students to be more active and to eat a more balanced and nutritious diet. While on Capitol Hill, Finn and Kretser met with U.S. Senators Brownback and Roberts from Kansas, U.S. Senators Bond and McCaskill from Missouri, U.S. Congressman Dennis Moore from Kansas, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Education Office of Safe and Drug Free Schools. The response to the partnership was overwhelmingly positive, and much support was expressed regarding the pilot launch. ACFN will keep these members of Congress and government agencies apprised as the program progresses and hopes to garner representation from the Kansas City delegation and government agencies for the official Partnership launch in the Fall.
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Five Years of
Success for the "Champions for Healthy Kids" Initiative General Mills, in conjunction with the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) and the President’s Challenge Program, celebrated five successful years of its “Champions for Healthy Kids” initiative at the National Press Club in late May. Since 2002, the program has devoted more than $11 million to different youth nutrition and fitness programs with an impact on more than 150,000 children across the country. "It is our intention to build local connections and, most importantly, to help instill good, healthy lifestyle habits that will last a lifetime for America's kids,”said Ellen Goldberg Luger, General Mills vice president and executive director of the General Mills Foundation. Each year, the General Mills Foundation awards 50 grants, $10,000 each, to not-for-profit organizations with programs which creatively emphasize the balance between good nutrition and fitness habits. The goal is to encourage communities in the United States to improve the eating and physical activity patterns of young people. The program follows in General Mills’ long-time commitment and focus on children and youth initiatives. General Mills developed the partnership and the grants because the health of young people in the United States is a current critical issue for our country. They hope that these community-initiated programs will have important long-term impacts on young people’s health and well-being. Grants are only be awarded to programs that address both physical activity and eating habits, since both are equally important to overall health and wellness. Luger stressed that, “the two go hand-in-hand. Healthy lifestyles are based on a combination of physical activity and healthy eating. Community based organizations play a critical role in the health and education of our children. They are influential in getting not only children, but their families and communities as a whole involved in leading a balanced and active lifestyle.” The American Dietetic Association Foundation brings a wide array of nutrition expertise to the program, and The President’s Challenge provides a proven motivational recognition program, the President’s Active Lifestyle Award, as part of the initiative. To learn more about the “Champions for Healthy Kids” initiative, please visit http://www.generalmills.com/corporate/commitment/champions.aspx |
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50 Million Pound
Challenge; "Give Up the Pounds, Not the Fight" Dr. Ian Smith, physician, New York Times best-selling author and VH1 Celebrity Fit Club diet expert, has teamed up with State Farm® to launch The 50 Million Pound Challenge, an unprecedented campaign and commitment by the African-American community to come together, join hands and help people take control of their lives and overall wellness. “The aim is to save lives by changing the lifestyle choices we make. We want people to give up the pounds, not give up the fight,” said Dr. Smith. Dr. Smith has stressed the fact that this challenge is not just about shedding pounds. He has challenged the nation to join forces to fight the very real risk that being overweight poses to the African-American community Participants can sign up using a simple form online to receive information and tools to help take off the pounds as well as track their progress. The Web site also serves as a way for participants to give and receive encouragement using the message boards, and shows a running total of overall weight loss of participants. The national campaign kicked-off in Washington, DC in early April and has events planned in 14 different cities from April to November to promote the campaign. These tour stops will give people a chance to learn more about The Challenge, have their health checked and meet Dr. Smith personally. To learn more about the challenge and to find out when it will be in a city near you, please visit http://www.50millionpounds.com |
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Texas passes
legislation calling for thirty minutes of physical activity A new law requiring one half-hour of daily physical education for students in Texas is creating a debate amongst school systems. Although educators are in full support of the fight against obesity, many question the changes that will be implemented into the school day. The bill passed by the Legislature will be implemented in schools in the Fall of 2007 and calls for kindergartners though fifth-graders to have at least 30 minutes of "moderate or vigorous" daily physical activity. This can be done through PE classes or structured play at recess. Sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders must have 30 minutes of daily exercise for four semesters. “Incorporating more physical activity into an already busy schools day is no easy feat, but with the potentially negative health consequences facing our youth if they don’t start moving more it is a critical one,” said Dr. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO. “Active kids are proven to be healthier both physically and academically and we applaud the efforts of the Texas Education Agency to get Texas kids moving to better their bodies and minds.” Schools will be required to evaluate the physical fitness of every student annually and report the results to the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The TEA will use this information to analyze the results and determine if the law has a positive impact. More specifics about the assessment will be available after the state education agency chooses the assessment tool to be used. In the past, students were only required to be enrolled in PE until sixth grade, after which students are allowed to choose their electives such as art, drama or foreign languages. Educators are concerned that enrollment in these courses will decline after the law is put into place. |
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Research shows
preschool girls more obese than boys A recent study by researchers at Sweden’s Uppsala University found that today’s Swedish preschool-aged girls are six times more likely to be obese than they were twenty years ago. The percentage of overweight girls has increased to 20 percent, while males have increased by 18 percent. Researchers are examining why there is variation between genders in obesity rates. One biological justification could be that boys are more physically active than girls and can handle the increase in caloric intake. Although this explanation makes sense, researchers are having a difficult time discovering a distinct reason for a difference. Carl-Erik Flodmark, considered one of Europe’s experts on childhood obesity, reminds citizens that the research could be skewed because it only studied children from one part of Sweden. Also, the International Association for the Study of Obesity (IASO) says this scenario appears to be unique to Sweden. In the rest of Europe, women are generally more fit than men. Swedes were among the slimmest of the Western nationalities in 1980, but the obesity rates among adults doubled from five percent to ten percent in 2005. Despite the high rise in Sweden’s overweight percentages, they are in better overall shape than the United States. Recent studies show seventy-one percent of adult men and about two-thirds of adult women are overweight, leaving about one-third of the entire US adult population obese. Whatever the reason, Sweden is hardly alone in the struggle against obesity and researchers are continuing to search for the reason why young Swedish girls are more obese than young boys. Doctors suggested that it is critical to help girls who are obese because women suffer greatly from pressure to be thin.
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American Council
for Fitness and Nutrition Briefs Congressional Hispanic Caucus The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition visited Capitol Hill in April to brief the Congressional Hispanic Caucus about ACFN’s efforts to fight obesity in Latino and Hispanic communities. Susan Finn, ACFN CEO, was joined by Advisory Board member, Cecilia Pozo Fileti, author of ACFN’s Hispanic Blueprint for Action, Healthy Families, Healthy Communities: Mi Pueblo…Mi Familia, to discuss ways to reach Hispanic communities in order to help people make healthier lifestyle choices through both nutrition and physical activity. “We were thrilled to have the opportunity to speak to Congressional members and their staff about this critical issue,” Finn said. “We had a great exchange with the Hill audience and we look forward to working with members in their states and districts to help their constituents reach their health and wellness goals.” ACFN was also joined by Dwayne C. Proctor, senior program officer at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). Dr. Proctor heads RWJF’s childhood obesity program and gave the group insight into the efforts RWJF is making in the fight against obesity and spoke about its goal to reverse the childhood obesity epidemic by 2015. Rep. Hilda Solis (D-CA, 32), Chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Health Task Force, worked with ACFN to organize this event and Solis’ healthcare aide, Noelle Lee, spoke about the work the CHC does in the arena of health and wellness. For more information about the Congressional Hispanic
Caucus, please visit: http://www.house.gov/baca/chc/. |
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Congressional
Lawmakers Fighting Obesity Turn to Leading Researchers ACFN Healthy Schools Program cited for focus on fitness
and nutrition “Our youth spend a great portion of their days in schools, therefore it is our responsibility to ensure that the environment provided is healthy and reinforces positive lessons about nutrition and exercise,” said Susan Finn, CEO of the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN). “Solving the childhood obesity crisis will take a unified effort among lawmakers, healthcare providers, food manufactures, school administrators and community leaders, so the House Education and Labor Subcommittee hearing on obesity is another step in the right direction for our youth.” Panelist and PE4Life Director Phil Lawler included statements on his involvement with ACFN’s Healthy Schools Program pilot in the Kansas City area. In his written comments for the record, Lawler recognized the importance of both nutrition and fitness activities in the fight to control obesity. During the hearing, Lawler presented testimony on the successful results realized through his program. Students engaged in PE4Life programs were reported to have increased cardiovascular functions, fewer disciplinary referrals at school and lower classification rates for obesity and overweight. The PE4Life program will provide the fitness portion of ACFN’s Healthy Schools Partnership scheduled to begin in three Kansas City area schools in October of 2007. With the addition of a new, comprehensive nutrition education component currently under development, similar results are expected for the Kansas City schools pilot. Rep. Woolsey warned the subcommittee that inadequate funding for school nutrition programs were putting children at risk by forcing schools to rely on “a la carte” offerings and vending machine products that are less nutritious than balanced meals. She stressed the need for sound school nutrition standards that consider caloric intake, saturated fats, trans fats and refined sugars. In addition to lawmakers, the far reaching effects of the obesity crisis have attracted the attention of many celebrity activists, including Chevy Chase, co-founder of the Center for Environmental Education Online and the Healthy Foods in Schools initiative. Chase’s education center identifies childhood obesity as one of its critical priority areas citing that school wellness plans should be supported as a result of emerging health concerns regarding lower life expectancies for obese children. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation was represented at
the hearing by Dr. James Marks, senior vice president and director
of the Health Group, who said that obesity is among the greatest health
threats to youth but lacks the national sense of urgency that is needed. He
referred to successful initiatives in Arkansas that halted the rise
in obesity rates in only three years. Dr. Virginia Stallings, director of the Nutrition Center at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, encouraged schools to promote healthy foods identified on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy. When students are able to make nutrition choices, more healthy selections should be made, she recommended. Stallings is also chair of the Committee on Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools. Recognizing the importance of wellness policies, Nora Howley, interim director of Action Healthy Kids, discussed how state, local and federal initiatives can help to reduce obesity rates. Howley argued that many policies lack important implementation details and lack the necessary funding to be effective. She also emphasized the need for policies to be understandable and maintain broad-based support. |
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Fathers' Parenting
Styles Connected to Childhood Obesity Rates Parenting styles adopted by fathers are gaining new attention among the multiple factors influencing the likelihood that a child will become obese. With the release of a study by the Center for Community Child Health at the Royal Children’s Hospital and the Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, fathers were found to be significantly influential in the battle to curb childhood obesity. The study of 5,000 four and five year olds found that fathers that were disengaged or did not establish clear limits were more likely to raise heavier children. Children raised by fathers that provided more consistent rules and guidelines averaged a lower body mass index (BMI), according to study results. While the research analyzed the parenting styles of both mothers and fathers, no clear relationship emerged between mothers’ parenting styles and their children’s BMI. The family unit has always been recognized as an important influence on childhood behavior, and the Center for Community Child Health study reiterates that the roles of both parents are important in ensuring that children receive the developmental support they need. “While mothers have traditionally made more of
the dietary decisions for families, the Center for Community Child
Health study underscores the need for fathers to actively participate
in all aspects of parenting, especially healthy eating habits,” said
Susan Finn, CEO for the American Council on Fitness and Nutrition. “Children
need firm guidelines and consistent support from adults because they
don’t understand how diets affect health later in life.”
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American Council
for Fitness and Nutrition May Executive Board Highlight: Kellogg’s “Healthy
Beginnings” Hits the Road Kellogg’s has announced that its Healthy Beginnings program will be traveling to Hispanic markets in 125 locations with Un Comienza Saludable, a mobile tour to address key health concerns in Latin communities. During this eight-month national tour, Kellogg’s will set up booths in 11 retailers’ parking lots where bilingual nurses will offer tests for conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and lactose intolerance. Kellogg’s has also created a bilingual magazine that contains easy-to-read advice to use in coordination with these events. “We wanted to create an extension of the general market Healthy Beginnings program that provides similar information to our Hispanic consumers, in their language, with Spanish speaking nurses that they can trust as well as a free bilingual booklet containing helpful information and easy-to-use health assessment tools,” said Sandy Uridge, senior director of worldwide consumer promotions for Kellogg Company. In addition to the retail stores participating in the mobile tour, other stores will be participating in a second tier of the Un Comienza Saluable program through freestanding displays with bilingual brochures and coupons for fresh produce. These displays will show customers that Kellogg’s does offer a wide variety of quality food options that will satisfy almost everyone’s taste buds. “We know from research that Hispanics often shop as a family so we felt that by offering this program at retail, we could reach not just moms, but entire families with information that can help them aim for healthy lifestyles,” Uridge said. The mobile tour plans to stress the health benefits of various Kellogg’s cereal brands, such as Smart Start and Special K, by pairing each cereal’s unique nutritional properties to a different type of health screening. The cholesterol test gives Kellogg’s the perfect opportunity to discuss the benefits of All Bran’s high fiber content. The Healthy Beginning’s tour plans to stop in grocery stores in key Hispanic markets. Uridge knows how important it is for organizations to be proactive against obesity. “As experts have recognized, obesity is a complex issue, with many causes and many solutions. All sectors of society including the food industry should play a role in helping to address this very complex challenge.” For more information on Kellogg’s efforts regarding health and wellness, please visit http://www.kelloggcompany.com/social.aspx?id=61
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American Council
for Fitness and Nutrition to Focus on Combating Obesity in Schools The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), founded by the food and beverage industry in 2003, has been reorganized with a 501(c)(3) foundation, the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition Foundation. This new structure allows ACFN to reach a wider audience in its continued work toward viable long-term solutions to the nation's obesity epidemic, particularly childhood obesity. This fall, the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition Foundation will conduct a pilot program in schools in the greater Kansas City metro area in partnership with PE4Life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF). The Kansas City Healthy Schools Pilot will implement a cross discipline “energy balance” approach – focusing on both on energy intake and energy expenditure. “We are building a model that puts physical education teachers and nutrition professionals side by side in the schools to implement strategies to motivate students to be more active and to eat a more balanced and nutritious diet.” said ACFN Foundation CEO, Susan Finn, PhD, R.D., L.D., F.A.D.A. “The fight against the obesity epidemic requires many allies and collaborations, and we are excited to have joined forces with the ADAF and PE4life.” A six-member expert task force has been appointed to support the creation of the nutrition component for the Kansas City Healthy Schools Pilot. “We are thrilled to be working with ACFN and PE4Life on this new project,” said Neva Cochran, M.S., R.D., Chair, American Dietetic Association Foundation. “Through our Healthy Weight for Kids Initiative, ADAF has been working to address childhood obesity utilizing the expertise of registered dietitians. This pilot has opened the door to continue these efforts and expand the work of our ADA members in schools. Nutrition is a key part of a healthy lifestyle so we are very excited to have a new opportunity to deliver healthy eating messages to children and teens in our pilot schools in Kansas City this fall.” “We are excited about the opportunity to combine nutrition and physical activity in innovative ways,” said Anne Flannery, President and CEO of PE4life. “Our programs have achieved dramatic improvements in fitness, while reducing disciplinary incidents and enhancing academic performance. Now, we have terrific partners with ACFN and the ADAF to deliver the nutrition expertise needed for a comprehensive school wellness program.” The lessons learned from the Kansas City Healthy Schools Pilot will allow the ACFN Foundation and its partners to create a blueprint for student health and wellness that could be replicated in schools across America.
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American Council
for Fitness and Nutrition Applauds RWJF Efforts on Obesity The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) recently announced a commitment of $500 million over the next five years in an effort to address childhood obesity, with a goal of reversing the obesity trend by 2015. With this investment, RWJF will expand school-based programs; help states and communities coordinate their efforts, advocate for change and evaluate impact. The American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN) realized the need to support school and community based programs, specifically those most at-risk, during its TRIUMPH tour across the country in 2005. Last year, ACFN partnered with the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF) and took its learnings from the TRIUMPH tour and put them into action through the development of two separate and authoritative blueprints for African-American and Hispanic communities. This year ACFN has partnered with the ADAF and PE4Life to launch a pilot in Kansas City schools to fight obesity. “The problem of childhood obesity did not arise over night and nor will a solution,” said ACFN CEO, Susan Finn, Ph.D., R.D., L.D., F.A.D.A. “That’s why it’s so important all sectors step up to the plate and become engaged on this issue—through not only funding, but also time, energy and action. We are thrilled the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has recognized the need and made such a significant step in helping address this problem, and we look forward to working with them in our mutual efforts to find sustainable solutions in the fight against obesity.” ACFN Advisory Board member, Keith Ayoob, associate professor in the department of pediatrics at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine added that the RWJF effort has great potential, and that it is critical the funding is not used on only institutional programs but also on programs aimed at parents that ensure healthy lifestyle choices for children in their home environments. ACFN’s Kansas City Healthy School Pilot Program will be conducted in the states of Missouri and Kansas in Fall of 2007 and will include students in elementary, middle and high school.
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American Council
for Fitness and Nutrition April Executive Board Highlight: The
Hershey Company In celebration of its 30 year anniversary, The Hershey Company announced an important expansion of Hershey’s Track & Field Games, the longest-running youth fitness program of its kind in North America. During 2007, Hershey will conduct a sustained awareness-building campaign to encourage increased youth participation in the program’s local and state-level events. The expansion efforts include continuing the USA Track & Field Partnership, with support from the past and present USA Track and Field athletes, expanding grassroots programs, improving its Web site, launching a Youth Track and Field instructional program and creating a Hershey’s Track & Field Hall of Fame. “Helping the community and helping people is the essence of the company,” said Tom Hernquist, senior vice president and global chief growth officer of Hershey. In the past Hershey has seen around 400,000 kids participate in the program each year, but according to Hernquist, the company hopes to get one-million students involved this year. “It is important to focus efforts on something that has long-term potential that can become engrained in the fabric of the community in order to make an impact in people’s lives. It takes discipline and dedication to make this happen,” said Hernquist. Hershey’s Track and Field Games were started in 1975 by Dr. Donald Cohen in West Virginia as a local playground program. Cohen pushed for local sponsors and in 1977 Hershey became a national sponsor and has been a sponsor ever since. Hershey and Responsibility The Track and Field Games is just one of the many steps Hershey’s takes to give back to the community. In the past few years, Hershey’s has targeted the problem of obesity by increasing support to promoting fitness and activity, modifying marketing programs-not marketing on TV or in schools to kids under 12 and by shifting the focus of new product development to appeal more to adult audiences. Hernquist said that it is important for Hershey’s to stay committed to Health and Wellness, and to promote physical fitness because society is becoming sedentary. In the future, Hershey’s will continue to give back to the community, especially in terms of keeping the community healthy. For more information on The Hershey Company, visit http://www.hersheys.com/.
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World Economic
Forum Workplace Wellness Initiative The World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Working Towards Wellness Initiative recently held a private workshop entitled "An Ounce of Prevention" during their annual meeting in Davos. CEOs across different industries joined NGOs and public figures to better understand the impact of chronic disease on employers, review the effectiveness of existing programs and brainstorm fresh solutions. In addition, the WEF and PricewaterhouseCoopers Health Research Institute launched a report on the impact of chronic diseases and current practices among multinational companies, "Working Towards Wellness: Accelerating the Prevention of Chronic Disease". The report found evidence that companies whose CEOs make wellness a key part of their business strategy tend to be better business performers. The report highlights gold standards for structuring and measuring success in preventing chronic disease. Experts agree that the workplace is an essential place for effective prevention strategies, and highlighted the following call to action in the report:
An executive summary of the "Working Towards Wellness: Accelerating the Prevention of Chronic Disease” report is available at www.acfn.org. To view the full report visit http://www.weforum.org/en/initiatives/Wellness/index.htm. A press release outlining the outcomes of the Davos workshop
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ACFN’s Healthy Schools Partnership pilot, conducted in collaboration with the American Dietetic Association Foundation and PE4life, is using nutrition themes within relay races to help students learn about the USDA MyPyramid.
When students walk into the cafeteria at Lincoln College Preparatory Middle School in Kansas City, Mo., they are reminded of the lessons they are learning through the Healthy Schools Partnership, a pilot developed by the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), PE4life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF).
Sara Lee is attempting to raise Southern California's grain point average (GPA) through the Soft and Smooth Bread Ultimate Lunch Switcheroo Contest, where students can submit essays about why their school needs a lunch makeover. The two winning entries will each receive a $5,000 grant for a lunch makeover in the school cafeteria, be served lunch by Corbin Bleu, one of the stars of High School Musical, and receive a one-year's supply of free Soft and Smooth bread.
Syndicated cartoonist Jerry Craft has joined the fight against childhood obesity by collaborating on the development of educational materials used in the Healthy Schools Partnership pilot.
With its new responsible marketing commitment, Unilever is taking action to help consumers maintain healthy body images by only depicting in company advertisements models and actors with reasonable body mass indexes (BMIs).
The 2007 Food & Nutrition Conference & Expo (FNCE), sponsored by the American Dietetic Association (ADA), was held September 29 - October 2, 2007 in Philadelphia, PA. The conference gave attendees the opportunity to reach decision makers and key influencers in the food, nutrition and medical products and services arenas. The Philadelphia Expo had more than 11,000 attendees this year, and there were more than 100 educational sessions for attendees dealing with everyday nutrition concerns as well as cutting-edge nutrition topics.
Jif, a part of the J.M. Smucker family, is now accepting entries for the sixth annual Most Creative Peanut Butter Sandwich contest. The grand prize is a $25,000 scholarship fund with each of the four runners-up receiving a $2,500 scholarship fund. This contest was developed as a way to promote creativity and encourage families to spend time together in the kitchen.
Pepperidge Farm, a proud member of the Campbell' Soup family, has released several whole-grain products in an effort to show consumers how important they are to a healthy lifestyle. Recent research by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration shows that eating a diet rich in whole-grain foods, as part of a healthy diet, may help protect against several chronic diseases.
