ALICE HILDENBRAND, PH.D. STUDENTWALDEN UNIVERSITY

PUBH 8165-1DR. JOANNE FLOWERS

FALL, 2009

School Nutrition

Introduction

Children ages 5-18 spend the majority of their time in the school setting.

A child’s school performance is affected by their nutritional intake. Hunger has been linked to behavior problems and

poor academic achievement.

National Health and Nutrition Exanimation Survey (NAHNES)

NHANES result from (1976-1980 and 2003-2006) Prevalence of obesity in the United States

Ages 1976-1980

2003-2006

increase

2-5 5% 12.4% 7.4%

6-11 6.5% 17.0% 10.5%

12-19 5% 17.6% 12.6%

What Children Eat and Don’t Eat.

Less than 40% meet dietary guidelines for saturated fat.

80% Do NOT eat fruits and vegetables at a minimum of 5 times per day.

39% Do eat fiber, dried beans, peas, fruits, vegetables, and whole grain.

80% of female children do not take in enough calcium.

Negative Weight Loss Methods

11.8% Do NOT eat to lose weight.

4.3% vomit or take laxatives

5.9% take diet pills, powders, and liquids without being under a physicians care.

What Some Schools are Doing

Between 2006-2008 schools in 34 states were Did not sell soft drinks

Sold only fruit drinks that were 100% fruit juice.

64% of the schools by 2008 did not sell candy or salty snacks

Adding nutritional selections on the menu.

10 Strategies for School Nutrition

1. Develop a Coordinated School Health Program which includes: Health education Physical education Health services Nutrition services Counseling, psychological, and social services Health school environment Staff health promotion Family & Community participation.

2. Find a Coordinator

3. Review school’s current health policies and program.

4. Improve current policies for school nutrition and physical activities

5. Develop and implement a health promotion program for staff and students.

6. Improve current health education courses.

7. Improve physical education courses.

8. Provide opportunities for student to participate in physical activities.

9.Improve the quality of school meals.

10. Select foods and beverages that are appealing healthy that are offered outside school meals.

Quality School Nutrition

Can be achieved through collaboration of selected members from the following groups: School superintendent School board members Parent Teacher Association Student participation Teachers Health professionals Food Service Director

Benefits of Quality School Nutrition Program

Improved and establish healthy eating behaviors.

Improved health and well-being.

Improved behavior in the classroom.

Improved academic learning.

References

Center for Disease Control and Prevention .(2008a). NHANES Surveys (1976-1980 and 2003- 2006). Retrieved September 16, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/prevalence.htm Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2008b). Nutrition and the health of young

people. Retrieved September 16, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/Nutrtion Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2009a). Contributing factors. Retrieved

September 16, 2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/causes.html Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2009b). Press Release. Retrieved October 14,

2009 from http://www.cdc.gov/media/pressrel/2009/r091005.htm Eliassen, E. K. & Wilson, M. W. (2007). Selecting appropriate elementary school nutrition education resources. American Journal of health Studies, 22 (4), 224-228. Retrieved September 28, 2009 from ProQuest Health and Medical Complete Databases. Florence, M. D., Asbridge, M., & Veugelers, P. J. (2008). Diet quality and academic performance. The Journal of School Health, 78 (4), 209-218. Retrieved September 16,

2009 from ProQuest Health and Medical Complete Databases.

Indiana State Department of Health. (2008). 2007 YRBS News Release. Retrieved October 1,

2009 from http://www.in.gov/isdh/21696.htm School Nutrition Association (2009). SNA Press releases. Retrieved October 1,

2009 from http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Blog.aspx?id=i2832&blogid=564 Wechsler, H., McKenna, M.L., Lee, S. M., & Dietz, W.H. (2004). The role of

schools in preventing : Childhood obesity. National Association of State Boards of

Education. United States Department of Agriculture. (2009). Myprymarid.gov. Retrieved

October 22, 2009 from http://www.mypyramid.gov/