Friday, Feb. 25

A sampling of obesity in the news this week:

Wisconsin

Column: American Heart Month; State of the State
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, 02/19/2011 “(Obesity) is a major contributor to heart disease and continues to affect larger numbers of American youth. We must promote physical activity for our children and ourselves in order to maintain healthy lifestyles and communities,” wrote State Rep. Amy Sue Vruwink, D-Milladore.

The problem: Obesity and lack of physical activity
La Crosse Tribune, La Crosse County Health Department, 02/19/2011 “Nearly 1 in 4 high school students and 2 of 3 adults in La Crosse County are overweight or obese. Overweight or obese youth are at higher risk for developing diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease at a young age.

Nationally (adapted from RWJF News Digest: Childhood Obesity)

Hurley Elementary Is Inspiring Students to Run Toward Better Health
Visalia Times-Delta, Hillary S. Meeks, 02/21/2011
Sun or fog, during January and February, youngsters at Hurley Elementary School in Visalia can be seen running around the makeshift track that was created five years ago for the aspiring marathon runners. Four laps, past the basketball courts and through the soccer fields and back around the playground equals one mile. Each time the 1-mile marker is hit, the participating student gets another flip-flop charm to add to his or her necklace of “soles.” Eventually, those charms will add up to 26.2 miles — a full marathon — one mile at a time. About 80 percent of the student body participates, said Julie Berk, the school's principal.

Jackson Elementary Promotes Better Nutrition With Salad Bar
Whittier Daily News, Tracy Garcia, 02/24/2011
They've already amped up their Physical Education program and educated parents about health and nutrition - and now, a new salad bar at Jackson Elementary School is giving upper-graders more of a say in the food choices they make. The portable salad bar, funded by a $3,000 grant from the Kaiser Permanente Downey medical office, was rolled out for the first time last week at Jackson - and it's the first such salad bar in the Whittier City School District.

A sampling of obesity in the news this week:

Wisconsin
Obesity increases risk for life-threatening illnesses
Green Bay Press-Gazette, Steve Contorno, 02/14/2011
“If recent trends continue, Wisconsin costs could as much as quadruple within the decade," said Beth Kaplan, spokesperson for the Wisconsin Department of Health Services.

Column: Obesity prevention program launches
Wisconsin Rapids Tribune, DaNita Carlson, 02/16/2011
“When you stop to think about it, we are surrounded by things that make it easy for us to eat poorly and avoid physical activity. Unhealthy food is cheap and within arm's reach. And we have to search for opportunities to be active. The good news is that in Wood County, we're working to change that,” wrote DaNita Carlson, Wood County Health Department health educator.

Help Make this Real – Wisconsin launches on Facebook.

Nationally
(adapted from RWJF News Digest: Childhood Obesity)

Inactivity Linked to Obesity, Diabetes; Highest in South
USA Today, Mary Brophy Marcus, 02/15/2011
Southern states have the highest rates of inactivity, according to a new government survey that looked at people's physical activity county by county. The new survey by diabetes and obesity researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reflects data collected from 3,141 U.S. counties, from adults who report no physical activity or exercise outside of their jobs.

Separate Bikes-Only Lanes in Cities Cut Injury Rate: Study
HealthDay, Alan Mozes, 02/17/2011
Cyclists using special bike-only tracks that are physically separated from street traffic have fewer accidents compared to bikers pedalling alongside motor vehicles, a new study finds.

Get Your Hot Dogs, Get Your Edamame
Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Norman Draper, 02/15/2011
Can healthy snacks sell at a basketball game? Researchers in Anoka-Hennepin schools are about to find out. Using grant money from the Minnesota Department of Health's Statewide Health Improvement Plan (SHIP), they are supplying concession stands at four of the district's five high schools with healthy snacks.

Thinking about physical activity

We received a question this week about tools for assessing how much physical activity is currently taking place in schools. Here are some resources that might help coalitions work with schools to assess the current physical activity environment.

The Active Schools Toolkit assessment checklist is a good place to start. The toolkit still says draft because DPI is piloting it right now, but it’s definitely a useable tool!

Following are tools that are more comprehensive than just physical activity. You could either focus on the physical activity portions or complete the whole assessment to get a broader sense of what your district is doing well and what areas might need work.

• The Wisconsin School Health Award also has some helpful questions about school wellness policies, activity and movement, and physical activity/education. As a bonus, you could work with you school to apply for the Wisconsin School Health Award. Applications are due March 15, 2011!
• The CDC encourages schools to use the School Health Index, a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. Note, the self-assessment process involves members of your school community coming together to discuss what your school is already doing to promote good health and to identify your strengths and weaknesses.

Additionally, you might consider assessing your school district’s current Wellness Policy.
WellSAT provides a standard method for quantitative assessment of school wellness policies. The tool offers a consistent and reliable means of assessing the comprehensiveness and strength of school wellness policies. The tool takes about 45 minutes to complete.