Why is a healthy nutritional environment important in primary

and secondary schools?Tykisha West, MPH student

Walden UniversityPUBH 6165-2

Dr. Rebecca HeickSpring, 2010

Objective Educate the state board of education, teachers,

students, and parents on the importance of nutrition in primary and secondary schools.

Promote environments that support physical activity and healthy eating.

Recommend community programs and messaging campaigns.

Why is nutrition important?•Children need good nutrition because their bodies are growing and developing.

•Their diets tend to be high in sugar and starch, depleting their bodies of essential nutrients required for optimal growth and energy.

Why is nutrition needed?•It promotes optimal childhood health,

growth, and intellectual development

•Prevents immediate health problems

(iron deficiency anemia, obesity, eating

disorders, and dental caries )

(CDC. (1996, June 14). Guidelines for School

Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy

Eating. MMWR, 45 (RR-9);1-33. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/000

42446.htm

)

Why is nutrition needed? Cont.Prevent long-term health problems (coronary heart disease, cancer, and stroke)

Can help children and adolescents attain full educational potential and good health by providing them with the skills, social support, and environmental reinforcement they need to adopt long-term, healthy eating behaviors.

(CDC. ((1996, June 14). Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. MMWR, 45 (RR-9);1-33. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00042446.htm )

Iron Deficiency Most common nutritional deficiency and the leading

cause of anemia in the world

During critical times of growth and development iron deficiency can result in delayed growth and development, poor memory or poor cognitive skills, poor performance in school, work, military or in recreation, and lower IQs

(Iron Disorder Institute. (2009). Iron Deficiency Anemia. Retrieved from http://www.irondisorders.org/iron-deficiency-anemia )

ObesityObesity in children over the past 30 years has more than

tripled.

Obesity is the result of caloric imbalance and is mediated by genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors.

There are short-term and long-term health impacts from childhood obesity.

(CDC. (2010, February 4). Childhood Obesity. Healthy Youth. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/

Childhood Obesity Graph

DiabetesOne of the most common chronic diseases among

children in the United States. About one in every 400 to 500 young people have

diabetes. More than 13,000 young people are diagnosed with type 1

diabetes each year.Type 2 Diabetes.

(CDC. (2007). Fact Sheet: Search for Diabetes in Youth. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/search.pdf )

Coronary Heart Disease Heart disease is not a

major cause of death in children and teenagers but if not controlled at an early age it can cause death as an adult.

Risk Factors High blood pressure High cholesterol Obesity Smoking Physical inactivity

(Texas Heart Institute. ((2010, February). Heart Disease Risk Factors for Children and Teenagers. Retrieved from http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/hic/topics/hsmart/children_risk_factors.cfm)

Cancer The second leading cause of death after heart disease. 100,000 cases of cancer are caused by obesity in the

United States each year. According to the American Institute of Cancer

Research, too much body fat causes nearly half the cases of endometrial cancer and a third of esophageal cancers.

(MSNBC. (2009, November 5). Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. Cancer Cases a Year. MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33683092/ns/health-cancer/ )

Childhood StrokesIf high cholesterol and other risk factors for

heart disease are not controlled in children, it can cause adult strokes.

Childhood strokes are linked to: InfectionsBlood clotting disordersSickle cell diseaseGenetic heart defectsHead or neck injuries

(All Children’s Hospital. (2010, May). Childhood Strokes: More Common than Parents Know.Retrieved from http://www.allkids.org/body.cfm?id=412&action=detail&aeproductid=Greystone_newsletter&aearticleid=239&AEArticleType=ForYourChild )

Nutritional GuidelinesThe U.S. Department of

Agriculture and the Department of Health and Human Services require that all kids eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

(Nemours. (2010). The Food Guide Pyramid. Kids Health. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/pyramid.html )

Physical Activity Guidelines USDA and HHS also think that

kids should get at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise each day.

(Nemours. (2010). The Food Guide Pyramid. Kids Health. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/pyramid.html

Foods Not Recommended for School Food Services Savory snack foods Ice Creams and ice

confections Sweet pastries Cakes Muffins Candy bars Deep-fried foods Sugar-sweetened drinks(2DEECD. (2009, June 26). Occasionally

Category (Red) Foods. Retrieved from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/images/content/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/occasionally.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/policy/occasionally.htm&usg=__Hv1eee3zrfziUNUnhywotNaOeuE=&h=343&w=250&sz=20&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=dQGXYBnF-gQAoM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddietary%2Bguidelines%2Bfor%2Bchildren%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1 ).

Foods Recommended for School Food Services Fruits Vegetables Breads and cereals, rice, pasta,

noodles Dairy foods (reduced or low-fat milk,

yoghurt and cheese) Lean meat and poultry, fish, eggs, nuts

and legumes Water(1DEECD. (2009, June 25). Everyday (Green) Foods.

Retrieved from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/images/content/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/everyday.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/policy/everyday.htm&usg=__ayzvyZVWhH4yQLYiSsiWKVUV1Og=&h=359&w=250&sz=27&hl=en&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=fvYFzYDaN03NrM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddietary%2Bguidelines%2Bfor%2Bchildren%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1 )

Typical vs. Nutritional Typical Nutritional Why it’s better Beef bologna on white Lean turkey on whole wheat Less fat and more fiber Mayonnaise Lettuce and mustard Less fat and fewer calories Potato chips Carrots & celery with light Less fat and a serving

dressing of vegetables Fruit cup in light syrup Fresh grapes Less sugar and fewer

calories Chocolate sandwich Homemade trail mix Less fat and more fiber cookies Fruit punch drink Skim milk Fewer calories, less sugar,

plus calcium 980 calories 725 calories 255 fewer calories 48 g fat 13.5 g fat 34.5 fewer grams of fat 13.5 g saturated fat 2.5 g saturated fat 11 fewer grams of saturated fat 125 g carbohydrates 120 g carbohydrates 5 fewer grams of carbohydrates 59 g sugar 52 g sugar 7 fewer grams of sugar 3 g fiber 13 g fiber 10 more grams of fiber(Nemours. (2010). The Food Guide Pyramid. Kids Health. Retrieved from

http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/pyramid.html )

Recommendations for Healthier LivingMake state efforts more consistently supportive of

changes toward healthy eating and increased physical activity.

Allow the Department of Social Services to work with childcare facilities to monitor nutritional value of meals and physical activity.

Allow the Department of Education to provide better health education and physical activity programs in schools and provide improved nutritional options through food programs

Recommendations for Healthier Living Cont.Department of Parks and Recreation should consistently

promote the use of state parks and recreational spaceDepartment of Transportation should help to better

improve pedestrian access, bike routes, and walking trails and reduce traffic congestion and encourage safer routes to schools

Ensure the governor and/or state agencies launch messaging campaigns to parents and children on healthy lifestyles

ReferenceAll Children’s Hospital. (2010, May). Childhood Strokes:

More Common than Parents Know. Retrieved from http://www.allkids.org/body.cfm?id=412&action=detail&aeproductid=Greystone_newsletter&aearticleid=239&AEArticleType=ForYourChild

CDC. (1996, June 14). Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating. MMWR. 45(RR-9);1-33. Retrieved from http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00042446.htm

Reference Cont.CDC. (2007). Fact Sheet: Search for Diabetes in Youth. Retrieved from

http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/pubs/pdf/search.pdf CDC. (2010, February 4). Childhood Obesity. Healthy Youth. Retrieved

from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/ Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. (2009, June

25). Everyday (Green) Foods. Retrieved from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/images/content/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/everyday.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/policy/everyday.htm&usg=__ayzvyZVWhH4yQLYiSsiWKVUV1Og=&h=359&w=250&sz=27&hl=en&start=9&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=fvYFzYDaN03NrM:&tbnh=121&tbnw=84&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddietary%2Bguidelines%2Bfor%2Bchildren%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

Reference Cont.Department of Education and Early Childhood Development. (2009, June

26). Occasionally Category (Red) Foods. Retrieved from http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/images/content/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/occasionally.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.education.vic.gov.au/management/schooloperations/healthycanteen/policy/occasionally.htm&usg=__Hv1eee3zrfziUNUnhywotNaOeuE=&h=343&w=250&sz=20&hl=en&start=7&um=1&itbs=1&tbnid=dQGXYBnF-gQAoM:&tbnh=120&tbnw=87&prev=/images%3Fq%3Ddietary%2Bguidelines%2Bfor%2Bchildren%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26tbs%3Disch:1

Reference Cont.Iron Disorder Institute. (2009). Iron Deficiency Anemia.

Retrieved from http://www.irondisorders.org/iron-deficiency-anemia

MSNBC. (2009, November 5). Obesity causes 100,000 U.S. Cancer Cases a Year. MSNBC. Retrieved from http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/33683092/ns/health-cancer/

Nemours. (2010). The Food Guide Pyramid. Kids Health. Retrieved from http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/nutrition/pyramid.html

Reference Cont.Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Curtin, L.R., McDowell,

M.A., Tabak, C.J., Flegal, K.M. (2006). Prevalence of overweight and obesity in the United States. JAMA; 295, (13): 1549-1555

Texas Heart Institute. (2010, February). Heart Disease Risk Factors for Children and Teenagers. Retrieved from http://www.texasheartinstitute.org/hic/topics/hsmart/children_risk_factors.cfm

Sites for Additional InformationAmerican Heart Association. (2010, April 24). Dietary Recommendations

for Healthy Children. Retrieved April 12, 2010 from http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4575. This site provides recommendations for infants, children and adolescents to promote cardiovascular health.

CDC. (2008, August 20). Make a Difference at Your School: Key Strategies to Prevent Obesity. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/keystrategies/index.htm. This site outlines 10 evidence-based strategies for schools to implement in addressing childhood obesity.

Sites for Additional Information Cont.Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Interactive

Menu Planner. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/menuplanner/menu.cgi. This site allows you to keep track of your daily food intake.

Food and Nutrition Services (2009). School Meals. Retrieved April 15, 2010 from http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/ . The site provides information on different school meal plans.