CommUNITY Wellness

Uniting Community ~ Inspiring Well-being   
[ login ]
Home | PhysIQ Program | First Lady's School Challenge | Wellness Partners | Montessori Model UN     




 

S.D. Spady Elementary School was the very first school in Palm Beach County to join the First Lady's Let's Move program by taking the HealthierUS School Challenge.


Let's MoveLet’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Sure, this is an ambitious goal. But with the help of individuals and organizations like you, we can do it. Let's Move Website

 

Learn The Facts

"The physical and emotional health of an entire generation and the economic health and security of our nation is at stake."

- First Lady Michelle Obama at the Let’s Move! launch on February 9, 2010

Obesity by the numbers

Over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled, and today, nearly one in three children in America are overweight or obese. The numbers are even higher in African American and Hispanic communities, where nearly 40% of the children are overweight or obese. If we don't solve this problem, one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.

How Did We Get Here?

Thirty years ago, most people led lives that kept them at a healthy weight. Kids walked to and from school every day, ran around at recess, participated in gym class, and played for hours after school before dinner. Meals were home-cooked with reasonable portion sizes and there was always a vegetable on the plate. Eating fast food was rare and snacking between meals was an occasional treat.

Today, children experience a very different lifestyle. Walks to and from school have been replaced by car and bus rides. Gym class and after-school sports have been cut; afternoons are now spent with TV, video games, and the internet. Parents are busier than ever and families eat fewer home-cooked meals. Snacking between meals is now commonplace.

Thirty years ago, kids ate just one snack a day, whereas now they are trending toward three snacks, resulting in an additional 200 calories a day. And one in five school-age children has up to six snacks a day.

Portion sizes have also exploded- they are now two to five times bigger than they were in years past. Beverage portions have grown as well- in the mid-1970s, the average sugar-sweetened beverage was 13.6 ounces compared totoday, kids think nothing of drinking 20 ounces of sugar-sweetened beverages at a time.

In total, we are now eating 31 percent more calories than we were forty years ago–including 56 percent more fats and oils and 14 percent more sugars and sweeteners. The average American now eats fifteen more pounds of sugar a year than in 1970.

Eight to 18-year old adolescents spend an average of 7.5 hours a day using entertainment media, including, TV, computers, video games, cell phones and movies, and only one-third of high school students get the recommended levels of physical activity.

Now that’s the bad news. The good news is that by making just a few lifestyle changes, we can help our children lead healthier lives–and we already have the tools we need to do it. We just need the will.

Let’s Move!

Let’s Move! is a comprehensive initiative, launched by the First Lady, dedicated to solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams. Combining comprehensive strategies with common sense, Let's Move! is about putting children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Giving parents helpful information and fostering environments that support healthy choices. Providing healthier foods in our schools. Ensuring that every family has access to healthy, affordable food. And, helping kids become more physically active.

Everyone has a role to play in reducing childhood obesity, including parents, elected officials from all levels of government, schools, health care professionals, faith-based and community-based organizations, and private sector companies. Your involvement is key to ensuring a healthy future for our children.


 

HealthierUS Schools Challenge

Many children consume at least half of their daily calories at school, and for many children, food served at school may be the only food they regularly eat. The HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC) establishes rigorous criteria for schools’ food quality, participation in meal programs, physical activity opportunities and nutrition education–the key components that make for healthy and active kids.

This nationwide award program, created by the U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2004, recognizes schools that create healthier school environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity. Schools that are doing the very best work to keep kids healthy are recognized, and high-achieving schools even receive monetary incentives.

The USDA, working with partners in schools and the private sector, is working to double the number of schools that meet the HUSSC criteria, as well as adding 1,000 more schools over the next two following years. Visit the HealthierUS School Challenge website to learn more.

To help meet the goal of increasing the number of schools that meet the Challenge, while taking into account recommendations put forth by the independent Institute of Medicine, major school food suppliers in more than 75% of America’s schools have committed to decrease the amount of sugar, fat and salt in school meals; increase whole grains; and double the amount of produce they serve within 10 years. With these commitments, children will receive more nutritious meals in school and have better information on the importance of healthy eating, putting them on track to a healthier life.

With these commitments, schools all across the country can raise their standards and transform classrooms and cafeterias into healthier environments through their promotion of good nutrition and physical activity.