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More on Obesity
This month we continue to share information on children's obesity.
Immediately after we completed last issue's commentary on obesity
I traveled to Britain. While there I encountered more concerns about
obesity but this time with British children. Summaries of two reports
appear in this issue.
We also include a commentary on the impact of soft drinks on childhood
obesity. Recently we were informed of a campaign to persuade the
Seattle School board not to renew its school district contract with
Coca Cola.
Unfortunately, so many districts have come to depend on the income
of lucrative soft drink contracts to support athletic and sometimes
basic educational programs. While there is easy to point out the
negative health impact of the soft drink industry, it is harder
to point to a replacement funding source.
We'd be interested to hear how your school district is handling
the dilemma of providing snack food and refreshments for students.
Contact us at pelinks@pelinks4u.org with comments and suggestions.
Have a great and healthy month!
Steve Jefferies, PE Links4U
Staff
Health and Fitness Section Editor
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Health Risks of Soda
According to Dr. Joseph Mercola, every soft drink or sugar-sweetened
beverage a child drinks every day, their obesity risk appears to
jump 60%.
Currently, soft drinks constitute the leading source of added sugars
in the diet, amounting to 36.2 grams daily for adolescent girls
and 57.7 grams for boys.
A study reported in the Lancet (2001;357:505-508) included over
500 schoolchildren of various ethnic backgrounds who were aged 11
and 12. The investigators found that for every can or glass of sugar-sweetened
beverage a child drank during the 19-month study, a child's body
mass index--a measure of weight related to height--and their chance
of becoming obese increased 60%.
This is the first long-term study that links soft drink consumption
to obesity in children. The study received no financial support
from any organization that either promotes or opposes soft drink
consumption.
Obesity among US children has increased significantly since 1960--by
54% in children aged 6 to 11 and by 40% for adolescents, according
to a report on the topic that came out late last year.
The consumption of soft drinks has increased 500% in the last 50
years, according to the US Department of Agriculture.
Read Dr. Mercola's comments and link to related information by
clicking here.
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Obesity in Children Rises in Great Britain
Year after year our children are getting bigger. The sedentary,
click of a mouse, fast food nation is catching up with us.
Instead of playing tag or jumping rope our kids are playing Nintendo
or surfing the net. Studies have shown that one in ten infants are
overweight when they start school.
Not only is obesity striking down the elders, it is slowly trickling
down to effect our youth. It is not only effecting their health,
but also their self esteem.
Lynda Lee-Potter columnist with the British Daily Mail writes, "...overweight
children have to put up with mockery and abuse. They are the butt
of all jokes, cruel nicknames and classroom bullies." She then
goes on to say that at the most crucial time in a child's life they
are ridiculed for their weight problems and "become vulnerable,
isolated and defenseless."
However, when we begin to talk about weight issues, there stirs
an uproar from the community. As parents and educators It is time
Potter writes, that we start doing something for these kids and
stop talking about it. The time for action is upon us. Get involved
with your students and turn them towards the playground. Pack an
apple or some veggies in their lunch, start them on the right track.
It is never too early to start living a healthy lifestyle.
(Source: British Daily Mail, September 11, 2002)
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Help your Students with Successful Weight Management
According to the Children's Nutrition Center at the Baylor College
of Medicine, there are some simple steps that adults can take
to help children develop healthy nutritional habits. Consider
sharing these with your parents in a newsletter home:
* Don't draw attention to healthy foods you've purchased
* Eat meals together so you can be a role model
* Don't eat in front of the television
* Stock your kitchen with healthy snacks
* Rethink the way you eat and shop
* Serve smaller meals, healthier snacks
* Involve the Food Pyramid when making meals and snacks
*Help your child consider healthy choices in places he/she eats
* Don't use food as a punishment or reward
* Don't overly restrict sweets or treats- try "everyday"
and "sometimes" food.
Click here for more
on this article.
(Source: Children's Nutrition Research Center
at Baylor College of Medicine)
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to share, or questions about particular topics, please email one of
the following Health & Fitness Section Editors:
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Count the Steps to a Healthy Lifestyle
Research has found that living an active lifestyle is healthier.
How much activity does it take to be considered a healthy lifestyle?
Around 10,000 steps a day! There is a new trend surrounding physical
activity, and it goes by the name DIGI-WALKER. This step
counter is both accurate and easy to use. All you have to do is
strap it on and start walking. Its that easy!
*Use in fully active Physical Education classes to motivate students
*Use in research programs to document the effects of exercise.
The steps add up everywhere! Enter your data in to the DIGI-WALKER
and hook it to your waistline. If you are uncomfortable doing that,
there is also a lanyard available to wear it around your neck. Every
DIGI-WALKER comes with a patented security strap that will help
keep the counter on and safe from drops.
For more information visit the Digiwalker web site.
(Source: DIGI-WALKERS Step Counters)
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Unhealthy Lifestyles of Teenage Girls
According to a British study of teenagers aged 14 and 15, girls
tend to engage in more "health-damaging behavior" than
boys. Research published in the British Medical Journal reported
that half of the girls tested were depressed. The study also found
that this increased depression is leading to:
*Smoking
*Drinking alcohol
*Eating Unhealthy
*Avoiding Exercise
Of the 1500 teenagers who participated in the study, 23% said
they smoked, 35% had been drunk, 39% exercised little, and 66%
said their diet was unhealthy.
Dr. Wendy Doyle of the British Dietetic Association commented
that this trend was troubling because, "they have not reached
peak bone strength and if you miss the boat at that age you cannot
make it up."
(Source: British Daily Mail, September 7, 2002)
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When young people feel unconnected to home, family, and school,
they may become involved in activities that put their health at
risk. However, when parents affirm the value of their children,
young people more often develop positive, healthy attitudes about
themselves.
Although most adults want youth to know about abstinence, contraception,
and how to prevent HIV and other sexually transmitted infections
(STIs), parents often have difficulty communicating about sex.
Nevertheless, positive communication between parents and children
helps young people to establish individual values and make sexually
healthy decisions.
Based on research findings, the Advocates for Youth web site shares are some positive and negative facts about
the communication between parents and children.
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