School diet program helped children in controlling weight problems

In some parts of the world, children are dying of hunger; in other parts, children are dying from obesity-related health problems. Such irony.

Childhood obesity is becoming a major problem in the developed world. In the US alone, 16.9% of boys and 15.6% of girls aged 6 to 11 years among non-Hispanic whites are overweight. Among non-Hispanic blacks, it’s 17.2% of boys and 24.8%of girls in the same age group. For Mexican Americans, it’s 25.6% of boys and 16.6% of girls. (Source: American Heart Association (AHA)). Obesity is a major risk factor in cardiovascular health as well as type 2 diabetes.

Many studies point to the causes of these weight problems - poor nutrition and lack of exercise. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American Heart Association have issued guidelines on how to clinically monitor and control cholesterol levels in children who are overweight or obese.

However, health solutions that go beyond the clinical settings are necessary to stem this rapidly growing problem.

Schools are one of the ideal places to start with. After all, children spend a large part of their daily routine at school. This study led by the Center for Obesity Research and Education, Temple University examined

the effects of a multicomponent, School Nutrition Policy Initiative on the prevention of overweight … and obesity … among children in grades 4 through 6 over a 2-year period.

1,349 pupils from 10 Philadelphia elementary schools were involved in the study. 5 schools implemented the School Nutrition Policy Initiative and 5 schools did not and served as conrol. The schools who had implemented the policy drastically changed the food available at school, be it at the cafeteria or in the vending machines. Sodas were replaced with fruit juices, low-fat milk, or water. Candies and sweets were banned and snacks were scaled down in terms of fat and sugar content. In addition, rewards in the form of raffle tickets for sports equipment were given to those who made wise food choices. In addition, the pupils were encouraged to perform physical exercises at break times. The children were monitored, their weight and height measured and their eating and exercise habits were checked with a questionnaire. The school staff who organized the study was specially trained in nutrition education.

The schools also stepped on nutrition and health education. Nutrition education is incorporates as much as possible in all school subjects. Special classes were organized not only for the pupils but for teachers and parents as well.

Social marketing on nutrition was also employed. Slogans and posters on healthy lifestyle were posted everywhere.

And here are the results:

The intervention resulted in a 50% reduction in the incidence of overweight. Significantly fewer children in the intervention schools (7.5%) than in the control schools (14.9%) became overweight after 2 years. The prevalence of overweight was lower in the intervention schools. No differences were observed in the incidence or prevalence of obesity or in the remission of overweight or obesity at 2 years.

This means that after two years, the number of overweight pupils at the five “nutrition-friendly” schools dropped while the number of overweight children in control schools increased. Also fewer new overweight children were observed at the “nutrition-friendly” schools.

Unfortunately, no such significant difference has been observed in the incidence of obesity in the 2 school groups. Also, remission or the tendency to gain back lost pounds did not significantly decrease.

In conclusion, special interventions such as used in this study do help in controlling the problem of overweight among children. However, it doesn’t seem to be enough. Other measures have to be taken including implementation of such initiative earlier. In addition, future initiatives should focus on other aspects of the school environment such as PE classes as well as environments outside the school - at home!

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The HEARTS Act Passes Congress

On June 10, 2008, the Josh Miller HEARTS Act passed the Congress, thus paving the way for saving more lives.

According to the Sudden Cardiac Arrest Foundation, the HEARTs Act

“will establish a grant program through the U.S. Department of Education to provide schools with funds for automated external defibrillators (AEDs) and AED/CPR training.”

The law was introduced by Ohio Rep. Betty Sutton earlier this year. It had gained the support of almost 100 House cosponsors.

The Act is named in memory of Josh Miller, a student from Sutton’s hometown. The 15-year-old Josh suffered a sudden cardiac arrest during the final game of the 2000 Barberton High School football season. There was a delay of defibrillation due to unavailability of an AED, resulting in Josh’s death. It is hoped that the Josh Miller HEARTS Act will help prevent similar tragedies.

Cardiac arrest is among the leading causes of death not only in the United States but also worldwide. According to advocates of the Act, there is a lack of support and funding for sudden cardiac arrest prevention and awareness by the government. Some states are lagging behind than others in terms of requiring AEDs and CPR training in school. Through this Act, it is hoped that the federal government with step up access to AEDs and other life-saving interventions in schools all over the country.

In an earlier post, I reported about the survey by the American Heart Association on the American people’s readiness to act and help in an emergency situation and the results are sobering. It is hoped that the Act will change this.

The Josh Miller Helping Everyone Access Responsive Treatment in Schools Act of 2008, or the Josh Miller HEARTS Act:

Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to direct the Secretary of Education to award matching grants to local educational agencies (LEAs) to: (1) purchase automated external defibrillators (AEDs) for use in their schools; and/or (2) provide training to meet the grant requirement that at least five adult employees or volunteers at each school where an AED is to be used successfully complete training in its use and in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).

Requires LEA grant applicants also to demonstrate that: (1) the AEDs are integrated into the schools’ emergency response procedures; and (2) emergency services personnel are notified of their locations.

 Requires LEA grantees to provide nonfederal matching funds equal to at least 25% of their grant, unless 20% or more of the children they serve come from impoverished families.

Gives grant priority to schools that: (1) lack an AED; (2) typically have a significant number of students, staff, and visitors present during the day; (3) generally have a longer wait for emergency medical services than other public facilities in the community; and (4) have not received funds under the Rural Access to Emergency Devices Act.

Authorizes appropriations for the grant program for FY2008-FY2013.

 

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