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Combination of Physical Education and Nutrition Education Shows Importance
Posted August 3, 2007

The Healthy Schools partnership pilot, developed by the American Council for Fitness and Nutrition (ACFN), PE4Life and the American Dietetic Association Foundation (ADAF), scheduled for implementation in fall 2007, supports a recent Associated Press article touting the need for more physical activity for students. The pilot, which will combine nutrition education with physical activity, is being developed to more effectively help students reduce their chances of being classified as obese or overweight.

ACFN advisory board member Dr. Tom Baranowski, of Houston’s Baylor College of Medicine, was quoted in the article, which took a critical look at traditional nutrition education programs that have struggled to reduce the rising obesity rates in the United States.

According to the article, a variety of factors — ranging from biological and parental to socio-economic — are influencing the ability of nutrition education programs to effectively reach students. Notably, school programs that increased physical activity were found to be more likely to have a significant impact on students.

Four out of the 57 nutrition education programs reviewed were deemed successful, including CATCH, Planet Health, SPARK and Gimme 5 High School.

To contribute to solving the obesity crisis, the Healthy Schools Partnership will introduce the pilot in four schools in the greater Kansas City metro area this fall. The goal of the twelve-week program is to incorporate nutrition education with fitness and physical education and create a model that can be replicated in schools across America.

During the pilot, more than 1,000 fifth through ninth graders will participate in daily health-conscious activities and will learn how to incorporate nutritious foods into their meals while remaining active in an already successful PE program. The key concepts to be introduced in the nutrition education classes include MyPyramid, Food Labels, Portion Control, Beverage Choices and Snack Planning.

This pilot will communicate that balancing food and physical activity helps children have the fuel they need for a healthy lifestyle. Dr. Susan Finn, CEO of ACFN, said, “As we finalize ACFN’s Healthy Schools Partnership pilot, I am confident our students will be involved in a riveting program that will hold their attention and keep them motivated to move and learn.”

For more information on this pilot, please visit http://www.acfn.org.