Posted on 02/19/2004 7:49:34 PM PST by Born Conservative
| Press Release | Source: Pennsylvania Department of Health |
PA Health Department Study Shows 18 Percent of 8th Graders Overweight
Wednesday February 4, 4:20 pm ET
The assessment was done to determine the prevalence of overweight children and youth in Pennsylvania and in recognition of the growing national problem of childhood overweight and obesity. Nationally, childhood obesity has been associated with the early establishment of chronic disease risk factors and rising healthcare costs.
"It is our responsibility to educate our children about the health risks associated with obesity," said Dr. Johnson. "Regular physical activity and good eating habits will help them have a happy and healthy tomorrow."
The assessment was conducted by the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Pennsylvania State University. The analysis is based upon a large, statewide sample of Pennsylvania eighth graders.
The assessment measured the height and weight of more than 25,000 students in 160 schools over three school years, from 1999 to 2001. The Department of Health evaluated the information using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Body Mass Index (BMI)-for-age growth chart (http://www.cdc.gov/growthcharts).
The Department is conducting a pilot BMI program in 10 Pennsylvania schools to evaluate the feasibility of instituting an updated school growth screening program to monitor growth trends in youth. In addition to performing proper measures of height and weight, schools would be required to calculate BMI, plot BMI on CDC's growth charts, and communicate these results with parents. Feedback from the pilot sites is being reviewed to determine the protocols needed for schools, work load on school nurses and the reaction of parents to BMI information sent home with students.
Dr. Johnson reminded parents and caregivers that children and adolescents who are physically inactive and maintain a poor diet are at risk of heart disease, stroke, lung disease, obesity, diabetes, cancer and asthma in their adult years. The risk factors for heart disease such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure increase in overweight children and adolescents compared to children with a healthy weight. From 1999 to 2000, 15.3 percent of America's children aged six to 11 years and 15.5 percent of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years were considered overweight.
Last year, the CDC awarded the Department of Health a $649,000 grant to implement nutrition and physical activity strategies developed in the "Pennsylvania Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan to Prevent Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases," which can be accessed at www.panaonline.org and www.health.state.pa.us. The Department of Health is working with the Pennsylvania Advocates for Nutrition and Activity (PANA) to implement the grant.
To view a copy of the "Pennsylvania Assessment of Overweight Children and Youth" or other health-related information, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Health's Web site at www.health.state.pa.us.
As an RN, I certainly recognize the problem of obesity (as well as the "co-morbid" conditions that accompany it, such as Type II Diabetes, Hypertension, etc.), but schools are for EDUCATION, and physicians are for HEALTH CARE. If the schools want to approach this issue from an education angle (i.e. teaching proper eating and the importance of exercise in Health class), I have no problem with it. But this is crossing a line over which they don't belong. Thoughts anyone?
Actually, we're all "at risk" of being overweight, if we pig out on chicken wings and cold cuts on a daily basis like Gov. Rendell, that is!
Did you forget to add "/sarcasm" to your comment?
I told them not to blame me, I didn't vote for him.
As I wrote on the state message board, this has already angered one of the officers of another PTA within our district. It will have a similar effect on others. I have no idea what the National or State PTA, who never met a busybody program they didn't love, will say about this. My guess is they'll be supportive of this wretched mandate. To be fair, I should probably contact them directly for the answer.
Thus far PTA on a district, state and national level has failed to impress me. Let me just add that I'm speaking as a local unit President.
PTA supports the policies of the Democratic party, make no mistake about that.
Our local district here in PA did the same thing - PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) still does the fund raising for the school and even hosts some seminars but without the national involvement -
Since you are a member, what benefit does PTA have for the school?
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