Active and Healthy Schools Program Gets a Jump-start on Curtailing Obesity
What's the single most eaten vegetable in America? You guessed it, french fries.
The Active and Healthy Schools Program is taking aim at unhealthy lifestyles by making simple changes to the school environment.
The evidence-based Program has already been implemented at Leslie Bell Elementary in Lexington, MO. With help from the University of Missouri Extension, the Health Care Coalition of Lafayette County and two-year grant funding from the Health Care Foundation of Greater Kansas City, the school has embarked on a mission to create a community that values healthy lifestyle changes. As a result of the program, the following initiatives have been implemented:
-
Recess offers a greater variety of structured, teacher-directed student activities on the playground (now referred to as the Activity Zone) as well as free play that allows students to interact with peers.
-
Teacher-directed, 3-5 minute activity breaks are conducted in the classroom between subjects to keep the students motivated and moving.
-
Faculty, staff and 4th grade students will wear pedometers to track activity and log results.
-
Fresh fruits and vegetables provided by area producers will be offered in the cafeteria.
-
Healthier snacks will be offered during fundraisers.
-
Students are educated about making healthier nutrition choices.
“This program is really a roadmap for schools to change the environment and culture so that students, faculty and staff embrace opportunities to become more physically active and nutrition conscience,” said Lynda Johnson, nutrition and health education specialist at the MU Extension. “It’s really about changing the mindset.”
The Program will extend to Odessa and Higginsville in the upcoming school year with additional schools following suit in the 2012-2013 academic year.
To learn more about Leslie Bell's program, contact the University of Missouri Extension office in Higginsville at 660.584.3658.
Videos:
Obesity and Tobacco Prevention
Leslie Bell YouTube Video