Preventing Childhood Obesity: Best Practice Strategies in Nutrition and Physical Activity in Early Learning Adapted by Betty Williams, MSW Betty.Williams@seattlecolleges.edu Cathe Paul, MPH, BSN Katy Levenhagen, MS, RD Coalition for Safety and Health in Early Learning This project was made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services and Public Health - Seattle & King County What are “Best Practices”? • Defined by Caring for Our Children: Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education Programs, 2010 • “CFOC” = Best Practice Standards for Early Learning Outline for the Workshop • • • • • • • Overview of Childhood Overweight/Obesity Best Practices: Nutrition and Mealtime Socialization Menu Planning and Mealtime Activities for Early Learning Wellness for Caregivers Best Practices: Physical Activity and Screen Limits Physical Activities for Early Learning Evaluations and Wrap-up Childhood Obesity Rates CDC data, 2008 •2 to 5 yrs has more than doubled (from 5% to 10.4%) during the past 3 decades. •6 to 11 yrs has more than quadrupled, during past 4 decades (from 4.2% to 19.6%) •12 to 19 yrs has more than tripled (from 4.6 to 18.1 percent) during the past four decades.) In Washington State 2008 14.4% of low income 2 - 5 year olds were obese Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Report, 2008, Long Term Health Risks • Diabetes Type 2 • High Blood Pressure/Hypertension • High Cholesterol • Heart Disease/Stroke • Higher health care costs • Quality of Life issues Short Term Health Risks • • • • • • • Premature puberty Sleep Apnea Asthma Bone/joint issues Social discrimination Depression and low self-esteem Risk for eating disorders “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.” M. Obama, letsmove.gov Contributing Factors • Too Many Calories – More added fats, sugar and salt – Too much food/more snacking – Larger servings – Lack of family meals • Too much sedentary time/screen time • Lack of enough physical activity • Viewing more food advertisements NHLBI Portion Distortion Quiz OEI-NHLBI Slide Show Menu Page http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/oei_ss/menu.htm#PD2 Healthy Weight for Children • • • • • Infant Feeding Practices Nutrition Mealtime Socialization Screen Time Limits Physical Activity Childhood Obesity Prevention Infants and Toddlers • • • • Breastfeed Practice cue feeding No TV, computer or media for babies under 2 Provide many opportunities for activity across the day CFOC Standards Infant Feeding Support, encourage and accommodate breastfeeding Moms 14 CFOC Standards Infant Feeding • Feed according to baby’s cues – hunger and satiety – need time to explore • Introduce solid foods: • Make a plan with parents • Preferably closer to 6 mths as indicated by needs Matt and Baby – Ellyn Satter Oh Baby...Feeding Young Children in Group Settings 15 Childhood Obesity Prevention Nutrition • • • • • Expose children to a wide variety of foods Eat at home most often Limit high calorie, highly processed foods Limit sugar sweetened beverages and juice Strive for 5-A-Day CFOC Nutrition Standards • Serve a 3 component breakfast to all kids • 1% milk to kids over 2/whole for kids under 2 • Limit juice to < 2, 4 oz glasses a week • Limit high fat, sugar and sodium foods • Serve a fruit and/or vegetable at snack • Supplement parent supplied meals • Provide nutrition/education guidance to parents Low fat, low sodium less added sugar • Less processed foods (canned, box, package) • More whole foods (fruits, veggies, whole grains) • More foods made from “scratch” • Eat 5 servings of fruits and veggies/day ABCs of Menu Planning • Nutrient Adequacy and Food Appeal – Meet CACFP meal pattern • Balance – Ensure variety, at least 2 week menu cycle, – limit juice to < 2/wk – Fruit and veggies for PM snack • Calories – Serve 1% milk – Limit high fat, sugar and sodium foods to < 1/week “We suggest that helping children attend to internal cues of hunger and satiety should be promoted as a productive child-feeding strategy and as an alternative to coercive or restrictive practices”. Susan Johnson, PhD, Improving Preschoolers’ Self Regulation of Feeding, Pediatrics, 2000 Childhood Obesity Prevention Mealtime Environment • • • • Eat together often (6-19 yrs) Model healthy eating habits (Preschoolers) Help children self regulate (infancy on) Avoid using food for rewards or punishment (all) Division of Responsibility During Eating Main goal - self regulation • • Adults decide what, when, where Kids decide if, what and how much Ellen Satter, Feeding with Love and Good Sense, Bull Publishing, 2nd Edition, 2000 CFOC Meal Time Standards • • • • • • Sit with kids Eat with kids Role Model Serve family style Let the kids help Follow Division of Responsibility I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand and One picture is worth a thousand words. Take Good Care of Yourself Keys to Wellness • Sleep • Exercise • Diet • Stress • Happiness Factor By the time a child is 3 the brain has formed 1000 trillion connections…The infant brain thrives on feedback from its environment…which is mostly YOU! Brain Games for Babies, Jackie Silberg, 2nd Edition, 2005 CFOC Infant Movement Standards • Infants have at least 3, 5 minute sessions of supervised tummy time when they are awake • Infant environment is least restrictive at all times • Container use is limited to 15 minutes/day • Infants go outside 2-3 times a day For many families, media use has become part of the fabric of daily life. The Media Family, Electronic Media in the Lives of Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers and Their Parents, The Kaihttp://www.kff.org/entmedia/upload/7500.pdfser Family Foundation Media Use and Young Children • Children 6 months – 6 years average 2 hours of media time compared to 40 minutes a day of reading • The older a child gets the more media time they spend – (40 minutes, 0-1 yrs and 159 minutes 4 – 6 yrs) • Among 6 – 23 month olds, about 40% can turn on the TV and change channels by themselves The Media Family, Kaiser Institute, 2006 CFOC Screen Time Limits • No TV for infants ( < 2 yrs) • All ages over 2: – 1/2 hr or less per week – Limit to educational program – Computers mostly for homework National Physical Activity Guidelines • > 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity • Several 15 minute bouts of physical activity • Daily activity that supports health, wellness, fitness and performance • 2 or more hours of inactivity is discouraged • Outdoor play 2 or more times/day • Limit TV to < 2 hrs/day • No TV in Bedrooms NASPE Statement of Guidelines for Infants and Young Children, 2nd Edition, 2008 31 CFOC Standards for Outside Play Time • All Children in Full Time Care – Centers - 2-3 times/day – Homes - 2-3 times/day • School Age Programs • at least once for children in part time care Benefits of Moderate to Vigorous Play • Physical Development • Fitness • Energy Balance • Disease Prevention • Social/Emotional Development Fitness: An Ongoing Process – Endurance • muscular/cardiovascular – Strength – Flexibility The more active, the more fit. Rae Pica, Your Active Child, Contempory Books, 2003 CFOC Standards for Physical Activity • Moderate to Vigorous Activity – Toddlers: 60 - 90 minutes – Preschoolers: 90 - 120 minutes • School Age: > 20 minutes/3 hours of care • Active play is never withheld as a form of punishment National Resource Center, Motion Moments Video Clips http://video.ucdenver.edu/users/lfields/c413a27e-b88f-4899-a6a29d2108041553.html It All Adds Up! Types of Physical Activity • Adult Led/Structured Time – Motor skill development – Balance – Guided fun and games w/assists • Unstructured Activities – Motor skill practice – Promote self motivation and exploration – Child selected fun and games