Transcript Building A Healthier Future through Nutrition Education

Building A Healthier Future
through
Nutrition Education
In Conjunction with the
Comprehensive Wellness Plan
for the
Mobile County Public Schools
Critical Need
To improve the education and
health status of young people
Many Health Challenges
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Overweight and Obesity leads to other health
risks.
Type 2 diabetes.
Overweight can lead to being overweight or obese
adults.
Early indication of Atherosclerosis
Osteoporosis
Overweight Among Youth
Overweight* Prevalence Among Children and Adolescents
*BMI at the 95th percentile or higher
Racial/Ethnic Group
Children (Ages 6-11)
Adolescents (Ages 12-19)
Male
Female
Male
Female
Black (Non-Hispanic)
17.5%
26.5%
18.5%
25.4%
Mexican American
25.3%
19.4%
18.3%
14.1%
White (Non-Hispanic)
18.5%
16.9%
19.1%
15.4%
Diet and Academic Performance
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Research suggests that not having breakfast can
affect children’s intellectual performance.
The percentage of young people who eat breakfast
decreases with age
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92% of children ages 6-11 eat breakfast
75-85% of adolescents ages 12-19 eat breakfast
Eating Behaviors of Young People
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Less than 40% of children and adolescents in the
United States meet the US dietary guidelines for
saturated fats.
80% of high school students do not eat fruits and
vegetables 5 or more times per day.
Eating Behaviors of Young People
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39% of children ages 2-17 meet the USDA’s
dietary recommendation for fiber (found primarily
in dried beans, peas, fruits, vegetables, and whole
grains.
85% of adolescent females do not consume enough
calcium.
A large number of high school students use
unhealthy methods to lose or maintain weight.
Alabama Profile - Obesity
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724,960 students in State
>65,000 students in Mobile County
9th to 12th grade
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26.5% describe themselves as slightly or very
overweight.
14.5% at risk for being overweight.
13.5% students are overweight.
42.3% students trying to lose weight.
What Is Nutrition Education?
Before we can talk about nutrition education, try
to answer this question: What is food?
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It might sound like a silly question, but food is many
things to people.
Nutrition Education
The act of enhancing and empowering our
students to possess the knowledge and
skills necessary to make decisions
regarding nutritious and enjoyable food
choices for promoting a healthy life.
Nutrition Education
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Shall be integrated into all areas of the curriculum
such as math, science, language arts and social
Studies
Shall be taught at all grade levels.
Shall focus on the students’ eating behaviors.
Shall be consistent with the state’s health
education guidelines.
Shall be designed to help students learn.
Nutrition Education
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Topics of interest will be featured on the MCPSS
web site.
A new topic(s) will be reviewed each month
beginning with September 2006.
Web addresses will be available for reference and
downloads.
Nutrition Education Topic Ideas
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Food Guide Pyramid
Food Labeling – What’s in
and how to read a label.
Serving Sizes
Food Safety
Hand Washing
National Nutrition Month –
March 2007
National School Lunch Week
– October 9-13, 2006
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National School Breakfast
Week – March 5-9, 2007
Weight Management Tips
Water
Eating Away from Home
Recipes – making foods heart
healthy
Smart Food Shopping
Snacks
Nutrition Education
Variety, Balance, Moderation
This is the juggling act that we need to perfect.