Overweight kids: Schools take action

A few reform advocates see particular promise in the wellness policies that all schools must have in place by the coming school year. "It really gives us an opportunity to have this discussion in a way that can get systemwide changes," says Alicia Moag-Stahlberg, director of Action for Healthy Kids, a national group that works with schools and is helping many create their wellness policies. "And kids have to be part of it, too. If you make changes to the school meal line without kids' involvement, you may just encourage more bootlegging out of the locker."

The reasons for the obesity problem are varied: bigger portion sizes, kids who spend more time in front of TVs and video games, neighborhoods that aren't safe enough for outdoor play or walking or biking to school.

And experts say that school-nutrition guidelines are outdated. For example: jelly beans, lollipops, and breath mints are not allowed, but donuts, French fries, and soda are. Even more troubling is the food not sold in cafeterias.

"There is junk food for sale in just about every school in America," says Allison Dobson, a spokeswoman for Sen. Tom Harkin (D) of Iowa, who is sponsoring a bipartisan bill to change the standards and make them apply to all food in schools, including that in vending machines. "This is a time when we should be molding our kids' habits."

Critics of such bills - primarily the snack-food industry, but also some schools worried about losing revenue - often say kids won't eat healthier options.

"We feel that teaching kids to lead a balanced, healthy lifestyle and make smart choices is more important than restricting one category of food," says Jennifer Phillips, a spokesperson for the American Beverage Association. She notes that the ABA has adopted a voluntary policy that limits high school vending-machine options to 50 percent soft drinks, and supplies elementary schools only with water and 100 percent juice. "We think it should be a balance ... and more about teaching children about nutrition and exercise."

But all that's needed may be a little creativity, says Christina Paxson, a Princeton University professor of public affairs and editor of a recent report on childhood obesity. Successful programs "engage kids in learning about healthy food, usually in very hands-on ways. They get them to help prepare the food instead of just lecturing them, they get them engaged in physical activity in fun ways, sometimes in unconventional nongym-class ways."

That sort of engagement has worked at Nettelhorst, which was part of a pilot project that put salad bars in three Chicago elementary schools. A study of the project showed that without any nutrition education, few kids chose the salads; with education, the number doubled. On some days, nearly a third of Nettelhorst students choose salad. No junk food is available.

Susan Kurland, Nettelhorst's principal, also made the decision to bring back recess - a rarity in Chicago, where a recent survey showed just 6 percent of elementary schools have a recess of at least 20 minutes. "There isn't anything happening here that can't happen at any other school," she adds. "Somewhere along the way we lost the idea that school is where you teach kids how to live life."

Page: 1 | 2