Why School Wellness?

65%of American adults are overweight or obese.

1 in 3kids are

overweight or obese.

70-80% of overweight kids remain overweight

as adults.

COLORADO One of the “fittest” states in the nation...

…but is that “fit” enough?

…and how long will we stay that way?

Colorado has one of the lowest

obesity rates in the US…..

…but also one of the fastest growing

obesity rates in the US.

If these trends continue, by 2020….

76%of Coloradans will be

overweight or obese.

What About OUR Community?

We have….

• Great walking & biking paths

We have….

• Great walking & biking paths

• Access to local farmer’s markets

We have….

• Great walking & biking paths

• Access to local farmer’s markets

• Outdoor activities galore

We have….

• Great walking & biking paths

• Access to local farmer’s markets

• Outdoor activities galore

• Beautiful parks & playgrounds

We have….

• Great walking & biking paths

• Access to local farmer’s markets

• Outdoor activities galore

• Beautiful parks & playgrounds

• 300 days of sunshine

But we still have a problem.

In OUR community:

Obesity rates DOUBLED in just 10 years.

Now about ½ of adults are

overweight or obese.

Health District Community Health Survey

Only 1 in 4 adults eats

5 servings of fruits and vegetables a day.

Health District Community Health Survey

Half of adults do not get enough physical activity.

Health District Community Health Survey

This is affecting our kids, too.

Healthy Hearts Club 2008Outcomes Report – Loveland, CanDo BMI Screenings

In OUR community:

About 1 in 4 kids are overweight or obese…

Less than 1/2 of elementary kids

eat enough fruits and

vegetables every day.

Heartaware 2007 Outcomes Report - Loveland

Our kids are constantly exposed to…

Fast Food Increasing Portion Sizes

Fast Food & Increasing Portion Sizes

Candy

Soda

Cookies

Muffins

Chips

Cakes

Pies

Cupcakes

“It’s just a little treat.”

Our environment makes it

EASY to eat poorly.

Kids need at least 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

Over 1/2 of High School students say they get less than 30 minutes.

Healthy Hearts Club 2007 Outcomes Report

50% of American homes have 3 or more TVs.

The average American watches 4 ½ hours of TV a day.

There’s a lot less…

And a lot more…

Instead of playing outside, kids are…

Watching TV Playing Video Games

Surfing the Net

PE time is declining.

Centers for Disease Control

Center on Education Policy - 2007

Since 2001, 20% of schools have decreased recess time.

Our environment makes it

EASY to be sedentary.

Poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and obesity can lead to…

Poor self-esteem

Depression

High blood pressure

High cholesterol

Diabetes

Asthma

Osteoarthritis

Cancer

Sleep apnea

Joint problems

Renal complications

Gallstones

Liver fibrosis

Polycystic ovarian syndrome (girls)

These effects are seen in kids as well as adults.

Heartaware 2007 Outcomes Report

1 in 4 high school kids in our community has abnormal cholesterol levels.

Can we let this trend continue?

For the first time in history, kids may have

a shorter lifespan than their parents.

These habits also affect a child’s ability to learn.

Physical activity helps kids learn by…

- improving alertness

- increasing attention

- enhancing motivation

- improving brain function

Physical activity boosts brain power by…

- engaging nerve cells throughout the brain

- sparking the development of new nerve cells in the brain - preparing nerve cells to bind to one another

- increasing blood volume in the “memory” part of the brain

Good Nutrition leads to…

…better concentration

…increased attention

…improved memory

…better moods

…less fatigue

Improved Learning

OVERALL, HEALTHY KIDS…

learn better

miss fewer days

have longer attention spans

do better in school

have better attitudes

have fewer behavior problems

We need an environment that makes it

EASY to be healthy.

Let’s work together…

to make the healthy choice

the easy choice!

© Coalition for Activity & Nutrition to Defeat Obesity