active school playgrounds. some health concerns: #1. improper nutrition
TRANSCRIPT
ACTIVE SCHOOL PLAYGROUNDS
SOME HEALTH CONCERNS:#1. IMPROPER NUTRITION
Super Sized Portions… Leads to Super Sized Kids
#2.PHYSICAL INACTIVITY IN CHILDHOOD
It is recommended that children be active for 60 – 90 minutes per day for optimal growth and development.
2/3 of children do not meet this requirement. Improving the Health of Canadians, July 2006
84% of adolescents do not meet this requirement.
A CRISIS?
• 36% of Children & Youth (ages 2-17) in Nfld. and Labrador are overweight or obese. • Highest in Canada - Canadian average was
26%.
By 2010, almost 50% of children in North America will be overweight. Rebecca Puhl, Yale University
Where does that leave Nfld. youth???
Obesity rates have more than tripled in Canada from 1981 – 1996. Tremblay, CMAJ, 2000, 163(11):1429-33
EARLY ONSET OF ADULT DISEASES: TYPE 2 DIABETES
Very strong risk of: high blood pressure and heart attack, high cholesterol, other complications with circulation, nerves, eyes, and/or
pancreas.
1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop Type 2 Diabetes Center for Disease Control 2003
- Central Nfld. has the highest rate in Canada.
Growth of Diabetes in Children 1990 4% of Diabetics were children 2003 20% of Diabetics were children Presently 45% of new cases are children
HEART DISEASE Heart disease will present 20 years
earlier in this age group due to the childhood obesity epidemic. Heart and Stroke Foundation, Feb. 2004
Obesity rivals smoking as the main threat to our health. Fat is the new tobacco. The Weight of the World
COST OF INACTIVITY 1999
Total direct healthcare cost of $2.1 billion
Unsustainable health costs: By 2017, it is estimated that Education & Health will consume 100% of provincial budgets
10% reduction in physical inactivity has the potential to reduce healthcare costs by $150 million per year “
The Economic Burden of Physical Inactivity in Canada, P.Katzmaryzk, CMAJ 2000”
OUR CHILDREN “ this generation of children will be the
first in modern memory whose life expectancy will not exceed that of their parents”
Canadian Cardiovascular Congress, Oct. 2003
Our kids’ life spans are expected to be 2 to 5 years shorter than our own - - because of fat. And the time they will have may be plagued by problems.
New England Journal of Medicine
THE SOLUTION ???
Over 90% of type 2 diabetes and 80% of coronary heart disease could be avoided or postponed with good nutrition, regular physical exercise, and the elimination of smoking.
The Integrated Pan-Canadian Healthy Living Strategy
Some schools have reduced overweight in students by 59% in 3 years. Here’s how:
Healthy lunches and halt to sale of soft drinks (School Food Guidelines)
More activity and physical education
Health & nutrition education Parental involvement
THE NEED FOR MORE ACTIVITY
• The Canadian Medical Association has called on governments to implement mandatory physical activity for a minimum of 30 minutes a day during school hours for all school-aged children and youth.
September, 2007
• The best strategy for reversing the obesity epidemic is to target the entire population and get people to moderately increase their activity levels. About 15 – 20 minutes per day is sufficient to prevent weight gain from occurring in the first place. Susan Okie, M.D. Fed UP!. 2005
ACTIVE SCHOOLS
Schools can offer a variety of active learning opportunities on a daily basis throughout the school year:
- a quality Physical Education program, - Intramural activities for all students to participate,- 20 min. of physical activity on non-gym days
(DPA),- Inter-school sport programs,- School wide events (Terry Fox Run, Living Healthy Commotions, Stepping Out) - Active Recess, a program to increase physical
activity, promote fair play, and promote leadership on school playgrounds.
The BENEFITS OF ACTIVE RECESS
Increased activity levels Promote fair play Reduced bullying and aggressive behaviors on the
playground Promote student leadership and creativity Promote conflict resolution and problem solving
skills Help students become independent in directing
their own play activity Promote fun and participation.
ACTIVITY & ACHIEVEMENT Exercise is seen as the priming pump for
students’ academic strides… The exercise itself doesn’t make you smarter, but it puts the brain of the learners in the optimal position for them to learn.
ASCD, Education Week, Feb. 13, 2008
ACTIVITY & ACHIEVEMENT In British Columbia, Action Schools spent less
time on curricular activities, but they performed just as well academically as children in Usual Practice Schools. Action Schools! BC 2004
ACTIVITY & ACHIEVEMENT Time spent in physical education does not
detract from elementary school students’ ability to excel in the classroom and may even help to improve girls’ academic performance. Susan Carlson, Journal of Amercican Public Health, USA Today,
March, 2008
ACTIVITY & ACHIEVEMENT Physical education is linked to academic
achievement for both physiological and behavioral reasons. Exercise programs can: Provide increased blood flow to the brain, Foster positive classroom behaviors.
This may enable better classroom participation and concentration skills and decrease disruptive behavior, which would result in improved learning.
Susan Carlson, Journal of Amercican Public Health, USA Today,
March, 2008
ACTIVITY & ACHIEVEMENT A recent study of 33 Ontario schools involved in a
healthy living initiative (students exercise every day, play extra sports, and are discouraged from eating junk food) saw overall scores climb by 18 % over two years in reading, writing, and math. This compares to a growth of 4 % for similar schools not in the health program. Principals also said there were fewer fights and better attendance. “Children don’t become brighter because they’re physically active, but they are less tired, less agitated, less stressed, and less sick. Physically active kids are in a better condition for learning.”
Professor G. Fishburne, University of Alberta (Globe and Mail, Jan 2007)
STAFF DISCUSSION
Feedback from staff Volunteers for implementation team Recruitment of student leaders Training session(s) for student
leaders Teaching students the playground
games Preparing the playground area Playground equipment Safety issues and supervision Promotion (launch day assembly,
posters, media, parent session, announcements)
