The role the school environment can play in reversing an
alarming trend
Carol Bostrom, MT(ASCP)
MPH student
Walden University
PUBH 6165-1
Instructor: Dr. Howard Rubin, Ph.d.
Spring, 2011
Learning Objectives
 Understand the facts surrounding childhood obesity
 Realize your responsibility as stakeholders
 Examine successful programs
 Explore and implement a program for our schools
Childhood Obesity Facts
 Increase of at least 50% since 19761
 In 2004, 17% of U.S. children were overweight2
 Females affected more than males3
 More common in Caucasian children3
1Schonfeld-Warden
& Warden (1997)
for Disease Control (2006)
3Barness (2007)
2Centers
Causes of Childhood Obesity
 Genetics
 Parental obesity
 Decrease in physical activity
 Increase of food intake
Foster (2006)
Complications of Childhood Obesity
 Lack of self-esteem
 Clinical depression
 Metabolic diseases
 Cardiovascular diseases
Barness (2007)
Influences on food choices
 School food environment1
 Vending machines1
 Food preferences and taste2
1Story,
Neumark-Sztainer, & French (2002)
(2009)
2Magryta
Influence of school
 Nutrition and physical activity curriculum1
 Teacher and staff support1
 Provide quality, nutritious food2
1Sutherland, Gill, & Binns (2004)
2Boone-Heinonen, Gordon-Larsen,
and Adair (2008)
Texas Public School Nutrition Policy
 Impacted food and beverages sold in schools
 Compared pre-policy and post-policy food records
 Healthier food choices within 2 years
 Significant reductions in fat and saturated fat
 Behavior can be changed
Cullen and Watson (2009)
Rowan County School Food Program
 Cost neutral changes
 Nine menu items replaced with healthier alternatives
 Successful taste test with elementary school children
 Public acceptance was a key factor
Magryta (2009)
Let’s Move!
http://www.letsmove.gov
 Healthier foods in our schools
 Increase breakfast program
 Teaching the importance of nutrition
 Chefs Move to School
 HealthierUS School Challenge (HUSSC)
Let’s Move (n.d.)
SASD Student Wellness
• The Souderton Area School District recognizes that
student wellness and proper nutrition are related to
students’ physical well-being, growth, development, and
readiness to learn.
• The Souderton Area School District is committed to the
wellness of our students and community by implementing
policies and programs that promote a balance of proper
nutrition and regular physical activity as part of a healthy
lifestyle.
• In a healthy school environment, students will learn about
and participate in positive dietary and lifestyle practices
that can improve student achievement.
SASD (2006)
HealthierUS School Challenge
http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/
 Food Quality
 Nutritional education
 Resources
 School food suppliers
 Monetary incentives
Let’s Move (n.d.)
HealthierUS School Challenge
http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/
 Sign up
 Menu Planner for Healthy Schools Meals
 Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition
Let’s Move (n.d.)
The 2,983 elementary age children of
SASD thank you!
SASD (2011)
References
 Barness, L. (2007). Obesity in Children. Fetal & Pediatric Pathology, 26(2),
75-85. doi:10.1080/15513810701448755.
 Boone-Heinonen, J., Gordon-Larsen, P., & Adair, L. (2008). Obesogenic
Clusters: Multidimensional Adolescent Obesity-related Behaviors in the U.S.
Annals of Behavioral Medicine, 36(3), 217-230. doi:10.1007/s12160-0089074-3.
 Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2006). National Center
for Health Statistics, Retrieved March 17, 2010 from
http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/overweight/overwght_child_03.htm
 Cullen, K., & Watson, K.. (2009). The Impact of the Texas Public School
Nutrition Policy on Student Food Selection and Sales in Texas. American
Journal of Public Health, 99(4), 706-12. Retrieved April 14, 2011, from
ProQuest Central. (Document ID: 1777828231).
 Foster, G. (2006). The Behavioral approach to treating obesity. American
Heart Journal, 151(3), doi: 10.1016/j.ahj.2005.03.003
 Let’s Move. (n.d.). Healthy Schools. Retrieved April 19, 2010, from
http://www.letsmove.gov/activity/index.html
References
 Magryta, C.J. (2009). School lunches: a strategy to combat childhood
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obesity. Explore, 5(6), 352-353.
Souderton Area School District (SASD). (2006) Student Wellness.
Retrieved April 20, 2011 from
http://www.soudertonsd.org/district/board/SASDpolicy/SASDpolicy-246.pdf
Souderton Area School District (SASD). (2011). About Us. Retrieved April
20, 2011 from http://www.soudertonsd.org/district/about/#enroll
Schonfeld-Warden, N, & Warden, C. (1997). Pediatric obesity - an overview
of etiology and treatment. Pediatric Clinics of North America, 44(2), 339-361.
Story, M., Neumark-Sztainer, D., & French, S. (2002). Individual and
Environmental Influences on Adolescent Eating Behaviors. Journal of the
American Dietetic Association, 102S40-S51. doi:10.1016/S00028223(02)90421-9.
Sutherland, R., Gill, T., & Binns, C. (2004). Do parents, teachers and health
professionals support school-based obesity prevention?. Nutrition &
Dietetics, 61(3), 137-144. Retrieved April 25, 2010 from Academic Search
Complete database.
Suggested Reading
 http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/
 http://www.letsmove.gov
 Power, T., Bindler, R., Goetz, S., & Daratha, K. (2010).
Obesity Prevention in Early Adolescence: Student,
Parent, and Teacher Views. Journal of School Health,
80(1), 13-19. doi:10.1111/j.1746-1561.2009.00461.x.