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back-to-school guidebook How to Build a Healthy Kid In association with healthy kids back to school The Childhood-Obesity Crisis 4 A former surgeon general speaks out by david satcher Lunchroom Makeover 8 How to encourage healthy eating by claudia kalb A Chef Hits the Cafeteria 12 An interview with Kathy Gunst by claudia kalb Recess Revolution 18 Putting the fizz back in phys ed by johannah cornblatt Secrets From the NFL 26 Two football stars on staying fit by nayeli rodriguez What Do Kids Really Eat? 28 Too often, not what they should by ian yarett the Washington Post company Katharine Graham, 1917–2001 DonalD e. Graham, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer MANAGinG DireCTOR: Ann L. McDaniel CHAIRMAN: Richard M. Smith eDITOR: Jon Meacham eDITOR-at-larGe: Lally Weymouth GuiDebooK eDitor Debra Rosenberg Contributors Johannah Cornblatt, Claudia Kalb, Nayeli Rodriguez, David Satcher, Ian Yarett DesiGn DireCtor Andrew James Capelli Deputy DesiGn DireCtor Sara McKay DesiGn Kristen Ren DireCtor of proDuCtion Ignacio Kleva photo imaGinG Steve Walkowiak photo eDitors Michael Fodera, Michelle Molloy, James Wellford eDitorial proDuCtion Cathy Fenlon (deputy director), Sally Atkinson, Dan Brillman, Vicko Fabris, Jean Foos, Deborah Martens, Pierre Metivier, James C. Morgan, John Ramsey, Herbert Samuels, Miguel A. Torres, Ana Zapata COPY eDITORS David Olivenbaum (chief), Andrew Cohen, Lisa DeLisle, Jacqueline F. Kurtzberg, Steve Noveck, Alessandra Rafferty, Carl Rosen, Jay Wilkins MANUFACTURING anD DISTRIBUTION Scott Bauer, Sara Boyarsky, Becky Cassidy, Kim Corrigan, Kristin Denninger, Gary Dzurenda, Mark Heeman, Michael Helldorfer, Lauren Palmieri, Damian Ross, Cintia Senmartin, Robert Serrano, Anthony Small, Lauren Thompson cover and inside illustrations Chief eXeCUTIVe offiCer by zsuzsanna ilijin Tom Ascheim Chief advertisinG offiCer Alyson Racer u.s. publisher anD senior ViCe presiDent Patrick K. Hagerty Chief marKetinG offiCer Angela Leaney ViCe presiDent, strateGy anD enterprises Nick Grudin ViCe presiDent of advertisinG serViCes John M. Ernst © 2010 Newsweek, Inc. All rights reserved. 395 Hudson St., New York, NY 10014. 2 back to school A Call to Action An epidemic of obesity threatens our children’s future. What we can do about it. by david satcher even in this age of google and and heart disease. Finding a solution iPads, there are some problems that must be a national imperative. Thank- technology cannot solve. One clear fully, first lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s example is the growing epidemic of Move campaign may finally be giving kids obesity in America, particularly among the problem the attention it deserves. our children. The problem is rooted Childhood obesity isn’t a new issue, healthy in our modern lifestyle—yes, perhaps but it is a worsening one. When the for some of our cutting-edge technology surgeon general’s Call to Action to has even made it worse by creating a Prevent and Decrease Overweight action of generation of couch potatoes. Child- and Obesity was released in 2001, hood obesity is now contributing to being overweight and obese had al- the increase in ailments like diabetes ready reached epidemic proportions courtesy 4 back to school in this country. That report noted kids are also far more likely to become that, in 1999, some 61 percent of adults obese adults, who will eventually face were overweight or obese, and 13 a whole array of other health issues. percent of children and adolescents Luckily, there is much we can do were overweight. There were nearly to change this grim trend. We can twice as many overweight children encourage healthy lifestyles and pre- and almost three times as many vention measures that will secure overweight adolescents as there had a healthy future for America’s chil- been in 1980. A 2007–08 National dren—getting them used to good, Health and Nutrition Examination nutritious foods and regular exer- Survey revealed that an estimated 17 cise. While families, communities, percent of children and adolescents and policymakers all have a role in ages 2 to 19 were obese. Among pre- working collaboratively to eliminate school children 2 to 5 years of age, obesity, I believe that schools—I like obesity increased from 5 to 10.4 per- to call them the “great equalizers”— cent between 1980 and 2008. It rose present the best opportunity. Schools from 6.5 to 19.6 percent among 6- to are inclusive—everybody goes to 11-year-olds. And among adolescents school—and children spend 1,000 12 to 19, obesity more than tripled, hours a year there. Schools provide an increasing from 5 to 18.1 percent dur- opportunity to educate and influence ing the same period. the habits of children from all kinds Obesity in children is of particular of environments, affecting their lives concern: obese children and adoles- and the lives of their families, now and cents are more likely to be at risk for in the future. Schools can also help health problems once to target underlying faced only by adults, social problems that like cardiovascular in 2008 influence unhealthy problems and type an estimated behavior, including 2 diabetes. The inci- 17 percent of poverty, safety, vio- dence of type 2 dia- children ages 2 to lence, and the ab - were obese betes is increasing 19 . sence of stores that among children and sell healthy food. adolescents; most of them, according My own organi zation, Action for to the Centers for Disease Control Healthy Kids (AFHK), addresses the and Prevention, are between 10 and epidemic of overweight, undernour- 19 years old, obese, have a strong fam- ished, and sedentary youth by focus- ily history for type 2 diabetes, and ing on improving nutrition and phys- have insulin resistance. Even chil- ical-activity policies and practices in dren who don’t develop grown-up schools. A partnership of 60 organi- illnesses right away are at risk: these zations and government agencies that newsweek.com 5 supports the efforts of teams—includ- Nearly 80 percent of physical- ing 14,000 volunteers—in all 50 states education teachers and parents felt and the District of Columbia, AFHK schools needed to provide more physi- was founded in 2002 in response to cal education. Yet about half of school the surgeon general’s Call to Action administrators indicated that schools the previous year, which identified already provide enough quality daily the school environment as one of five physical education for all students. key sites of change. A 2004 AFHK report, “The Learn- Fewer than one in four parents had ing Connection: The Value of Improv- ever talked with their child’s teacher ing Nutrition and Physical Activity or principal about improving nutri- in Our Schools,” pointed out that tion or physical activity at school, even children who were physically active though most parents felt these were and ate a nutritious breakfast per- significant concerns. formed better in school. They con- centrated better; performed better A 2007 national survey conducted on standardized exams in read- by AFHK revealed that 18 percent of ing and math; were better disci- parents thought schools were doing a plined; and were much less likely to good job offering nutritious, appeal- be absent from school. In a 2008 ing foods, and only 20 percent thought report, “Progress or Promises: What’s schools offered enough physical activ- Working for and Against Healthy ity. Nearly all (96 percent) thought that Schools,” we found differing views parents play an important role in advo- of schools’ efforts to promote healthy cating for better nutrition and more behavior. physical education, yet only 24 percent had ever contacted their child’s school The nutrition, health, and public- to request improvements. health professionals surveyed cited nutrition education as the most effec- One of three elementary schools did tive strategy to help youth make not offer daily recess, and only 4 per- better food selections. A majority cent offered daily physical education. of school administrators, including Physical education actually declined superintendents, board members, as students progressed through school. principals, and school food- service And most local school wellness poli- professionals, felt their schools were cies we examined did not include already doing a good job of offering goals for physical education or healthy, kid-friendly food options. physical- education-teacher training. But some 82 percent of parents felt schools needed to work harder in Though the overall picture seems these areas. bleak, there are some bright spots in 6 back to school satcher with houston students. our efforts to tackle childhood obe- sity. One example is Fuel Up to Play 60, a new youth program spon- sored by the National Dairy Council and the National Football League that encourages kids to eat healthy by tak- ing the right fuels—fruits and vegeta- bles, water, low-fat milk, whole-grain bread—into their bodies and to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. Action for Healthy Kids also devel- oped, in partnership with the National Football League, the first national after-school program, ReCharge! En- er gizing After-School, that fully inte- will be critical to addressing this grates nutrition and physical activity complex challenge and all the barri- through teamwork-based strategies ers to healthy behavior that go with for youth in grades three to six. In it. Individuals must make healthy the last school year, AFHK reached lifestyle choices for themselves and nearly 4 million kids their families; com- in 8,000 schools in munities must make 1,100 school districts. only 18 percent changes that promote Now some 90 per- of parents thought healthful eating and schools were doing cent of schools have physical activity; and a good job offering wellness policies in - policies must be de - nutritious foods. tend ed to promote vel oped and imple- physical education mented to ensure that and model good nutrition in grades the changes take place.