Growing Healthy Kids in Kentucky

1. Growing Healthy Kids in Kentucky

2. Janet Tietyen, Ph.D., R.D., L.D. • Assistant Professor, U of Kentucky • Extension Specialist in Food & Nutrition

3. Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service • offices in all 120 Kentucky counties • Agriculture & Natural Resources • Family & Consumer Sciences • 4H & Youth Development

4. The Clover Cat Way to Wellness -fall 2001 pilot test with 400 Clark County students -fall 2002 training for Kentucky Extension Agents -designed for use in classroom or 4-H Club -correlates to KERA core content & objectives -CATSkills: -Choose Healthy Foods -Activate Your Life -Take Time to Be Well

5. Our Growing Concerns • Obesity in adults • Overweight children • Why are children gaining weight? • Community action plans

7. How do we define overweight children? • Body mass index (BMI) is the most widely used approach to defining overweight in children. BMI assesses weight by using height and weight. • Overweight = children at or above the 95th percentile of BMI by sex and age • At risk of being overweight = children between the 85th and 94th percentile of BMI

8. Should we be concerned about overweight children? From 1980 to 1999 Overweight children rose from 7% to 13% Overweight teenagers almost tripled from 5% to 14%

9. Consequences of Childhood Overweight • May last into adulthood • Increased risk for high blood pressure, diabetes, high blood lipids, asthma, joint problems, and sleeping disorders • Low self-esteem and poor body image

10. Comparison of Kentucky’s overweight children to the U.S?

11. Risk Factors for Overweight • Skipping meals • Eating high fat/high sugar “snack” foods • Drinking sweetened beverages such as soft drinks • Eating large, infrequent meals • Constant snacking • Eating fast food frequently • Increased TV watching • Decreased physical activity

12. Why are children gaining weight? • Affordable/high-calorie foods • Accessibility of food • Lack of physical activity • Limited access to opportunities for activity

13. Model for Influence Public Policy Community Institutes/Organizations Interpersonal Individual

14. Community Action • Create a community which promotes physical activity • Make healthy foods more accessible • Have increased access to gyms, playgrounds, and walking trials

15. Civic Leaders • Work with city planners and engineers to plan for sidewalks and bicycle paths • Designate a place and promote a farmer’s market • Increase the access for the use of public facilities • Create a community coalition to address childhood overweight in your area

16. Community Health Educators • Go to the schools and talk with students and teachers on ways to combat childhood overweight • Have signs posted in your waiting and exam rooms promoting weight loss benefits and ways to increase physical activity

17. Site-Based Councils • Set policies for what can and cannot be sold in schools • Reevaluate the contracts between your district and soft drink industries • Require schools to have daily physical activity • Schools should have the equipment and supervision for children to meet physical activity needs • Assess school’s eating & activity environment and make changes accordingly

18. School Administrators • Promote healthier eating and physical activity in your school • Have a Health Educator, Registered Dietitian, County Extension Agent or School Foodservice Director come to your faculty/staff meetings to bring unity on this issue • Give students healthier options in the vending machines

19. Foodservice Directors • Make healthy food options appealing • Provide low-fat, low-calorie, and low-sugar food items • Reduce access to high-fat, high-calorie, high-sugar foods, and excessive portion sizes • Plan school menu with a group of parents and teachers

20. Teachers • Have some form of movement in the health curriculum • For bake sales/class parties, have parents bring healthy snacks • Do not reward students with food or punish students by taking away recess • Raise awareness to students and staff on the benefits of physical activity • Have a health educator speak to students on ways to be more active

21. Parents • Limit TV, movies, video and computer games for children to 1-2 hours per day • Encourage child to be involved in organized sports, 4-H programs, outdoor activities, active playtime at home • Enjoy regular exercise with the entire family • Assign active chores to all family members • Contact your school/school board know that you are concerned about food and physical activity at school

22. Parents • Buy healthier snacks (like fruit and vegetables) • Be a healthy role model for your children • Buy only 100% fruit juice • Eat meals together at the dinner table • Avoid watching TV during mealtimes • Limit fast food eating to no more than once per week • Avoid using food as a reward or using the lack of food as a punishment

23. Children • Try eating low-fat, low-sugar snacks • Eat more fruits and vegetables • Record what you eat for 2-3 days and compare it to the Food Guide Pyramid • Be active for at least 60 minutes a day