Education Law

Check out NSBA?s new childhood obesity webpage

BoardBuzz wants to let all of you know of a useful new webpage on NSBA?s website: Childhood Obesity & Schools. 

Did you know that nearly one third of children and youth in the United States are overweight or obese?  In the past four decades, childhood obesity rates have quadrupled among children ages 6-11 and more than tripled among youth ages 12-19.  Childhood obesity is one of the most pressing health issues affecting our nation?s students, and can impact children?s ability to reach their full potential. 

And, yes, childhood obesity matters to schools ? research shows that children and youth who eat nutritious foods and are active, stay healthier, perform better in school, and learn behaviors that keep them healthier throughout their lifetimes. 

With that in mind, NSBA?s School Health Programs created this webpage to help school leaders and others address childhood obesity and keep kids healthy and ready to learn!

The webpage includes information on childhood obesity, why it matters for schools, and the role school leaders play in addressing childhood obesity.  Activities conducted through NSBA?s childhood obesity project, with support from Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, are also featured. 

In addition, the webpage includes relevant data and research; resources for developing sound policies and practices related to childhood obesity; and examples of school successes in addressing childhood obesity.  Moreover, the webpage offers ways to combat childhood obesity through healthy eating resources such as nutrition education and farm-to-school programs as well as physical activity resources such as joint use agreements and Safe Routes to School Programs.  General resources such as links to websites and resources on specific topics related to childhood obesity are also provided. 

To check it out, click here. And let us know what your schools are doing to address childhood obesity.  Leave us a comment.

Full post as published by BoardBuzz: NSBA's Daily Weblog on January 15, 2010 (boomark / email).