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Promoting Healthy Youth, Schools, andCommunities: A Guide to Community-School Health Councils. 2003. AmericanCancer Society. This guide is designed toassist school districts in developing newschool health councils, strengtheningexisting councils, and maintaining them aseffective entities that can support andguide school health practices, programsand policies. The guide includes aCD-ROM that aids in customizingworksheets and other materials. Visit theAmerican Cancer Society Web site atwww.cancer.org or the American SchoolHealth Association Web site atwww.ashaweb.org.

School Health Index. 2005. Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention

(CDC). Easy-to-useself-assessment andplanning tool thatenable school healthcouncils and others toanalyze the strengths

and weaknesses of their school healthpolicies, curricula and services. It isavailable free to download or request ahard copy. A new interactive web versionis also available atwww.cdc.gov/healthyyouth. Technicalassistance is available upon request bycontacting Jim Tackett with KDE CSH at(502) 564-2154 orjames.tackett@education.ky.gov.

Advancing Community Public HealthSystems in the 21st Century: EmergingStrategies and Innovations from theTurning Point Experience. Rhein, M,Lafronza, V, Bhandari, E, Hawes, J,Hofrichter, R. NACCHO, 2001. Aninnovative book that can be used as a

guide to enhance theways communitiesprovide healthcare,environments andstrategies to enhancehealth in the 21stcentury. Published bythe NationalAssociation ofCounty and City Health Officials.www.naccho.org, under Publications andTools. ($19.95)

Preventing Obesity and Chronic Diseasesthrough Good Nutrition and PhysicalActivity. A Report of the National Center forChronic Disease Prevention and HealthPromotion. CDC, Revised July 2005. Thisreport focuses on ways to provide better andmore efficient prevention of chronicdiseases by implementing simple, evidence-based strategies in various settingsthroughout different ages.http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/factsheets/prevention/obesity.htm.

Promoting PhysicalActivity: A Guide forCommunity Action.U.S. Department ofHealth and HumanServices, Public HealthServices, Centers forDisease Control andPrevention, NationalCenter for ChronicDisease Prevention and Health Promotion,Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity.Champaign, IL: Human Kinetics, 1999. Aguide promoting and explaining wayscommunities can mobilize to provide easy,inexpensive and readily available ways to

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promote physical activity for all ages.http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/pahand.htm.

Bright Futures in Practice: PhysicalActivity. A set of guidelines and a practicaldevelopment approach to help healthprofessionals, families, and others who carefor children of all ages to be more effectivein physical activity. http://www.brightfutures.org/physicalactivity/about.htm

Federal LawsChild Nutrition and WICReauthorization Act of 2004 – Requiresthat the first day of the school year afterJune 30, 2006, each district will haveestablished local school wellness policiesfor the schools in the district thatinclude goals for nutrition education,physical activity, and other school-basedactivities.

The wellness policies will also includenutrition guidelines for all foods availableon school campus during the school day.The development of the wellness policesshould involve parents, students, schoolfood service, school administrators andthe community.

The group should alsoestablish a plan formeasuring implementation ofthe local wellness policiesanddesignate one or more peopleto ensure the school meets the policies.

State and Federal Laws

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State LawsKRS 160.345 (11) – Schools containinggrades K-5, (kindergarten through fifthgrade) or any combination thereof, mustadopt and implement a “local wellnesspolicy” providing for daily moderate tovigorous physical activity for studentsand encouraging healthy choices. If theydesire, schools may use up to 30 minutesof the instructional day to provide forphysical activity. Principals in theseschools must annually assess eachstudent’s level of physical activity.

KRS 158.856 – Requires an annualevaluation and report on the nutritionprogram at all schools, and requires localschool boards to discuss the findings ofthe nutrition report and solicit publiccomments. The law also requires thatboards annually present a plan toimprove the nutrition environment in thedistrict. It must be presented on or beforeJanuary 31 of each year.

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Training is available basedon participant numbers. Torequest a training, contactEmma Walters with theNutrition Services Branchat Emma.Walters@ky.govor phone (502) 564-3827,extension 3854.

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Overall, about 70 percent of Kentucky men (67.9 percent nationally) and 55 percent ofKentucky women (51.3 percent nationally) are overweight or obese. Some 62 percent of whiteKentucky adults and 71 percent of black adults are overweight or obese. The percentage ofblacks nationwide is about the same, and 57.7 percent of whites are overweight or obese.

More than 14.5 percent of Kentucky high school students are overweight, compared with10.5 percent nationwide. Some 15.3 percent of Kentucky high school students are at risk ofbecoming overweight, compared with 13.6 percent nationwide.

Only 35 percent of Kentucky high school students areenrolled in physical education classes, compared with 51percent nationally. Only 26 percent of Kentucky high schoolgirls are in physical education classes, compared with 48percent nationally.

Kentuckians with less education are more likely be moreoverweight and less likely to be active. Only 29 percent ofKentucky adults get the recommended amount of physicalactivity, compared with 45 percent nationally.

Data

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� 30 percent of Kentucky high-school students are overweight or at risk of becomingoverweight.1

35 percent of low-income children between 2 and 5 years of age in Kentucky areoverweight or at risk of becoming overweight.2

44 percent of Kentucky’s children had not participated in sufficient vigorous physicalactivity during the past 7 days.

79 percent of Kentucky’s children had not participated in sufficient moderate physicalactivity during the past 7 days.

11 percent of Kentucky’s children did no physical activity at all during the past 7 days.

65 percent of Kentucky’s children are not enrolled in regular physical educationclasses.

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Kentuckians’ weight problems translate into health problems: 34 percent have arthritis, thenation’s second highest rate; 33 percent have high blood pressure, the fifth highest; 30 percenthave high cholesterol, the 18th highest.

Results of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) for 1999–2002 indicate that:

Non-Hispanic black (21 percent) and Hispanic-American adolescents (23 percent) ages 12-19were more likely to be overweight than non-Hispanic white adolescents (14 percent).

Hispanic-American children ages 6 to 11 were more likely to be overweight (22 percent) thannon-Hispanic black children (20 percent) and non-Hispanic white children (14 percent).

In addition to the 16 percent of children and teens ages six to 19 who were overweight in1999-2002, another 15 percent were considered at risk of becoming overweight (a BMI-for-age between the 85th and 95th percentiles).

Meanwhile, the percent of children who are overweight (defined as BMI-for-age at or abovethe 95th percentile of the CDC Growth Charts) continues to increase. Among children andteens ages 6 -19, 16 percent (over 9 million) are overweight according to the 1999-2002 data,or triple what the proportion was in 1980.

Physical Activity

Other data results indicate an estimated 16 percent of children and adolescents ages 6–19 yearsare overweight. For children, overweight is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95thpercentile of the CDC growth charts for age and gender. See Table 1 below for a review of the surveyresults.

1Excludes pregnant women starting with 1971-74. Pregnancy status not available for 1963-65 and1966-70.2Data for 1963-65 are for children 6-11 years of age; data for 1966-70 are for adolescents 12-17years of age, not 12-19 years.

Age (years)1

6–11

12–19

1963–19651966–19702

1971–1974 1976–1980 1988–1994 1999–2002

4% 4%

5%5% 6%

11%7% 16%

16%11%

Table 1. Prevalence of overweight among children and adolescents ages 6–19 years,for selected years 1963–1965 through 1999–2002 (NHANES)

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The following are examples of availableevidence-based curricula:

Coordinated Approach To Child Health(CATCH) – K-5: Designed to promotephysical activity, healthy food choices, andpreventing tobacco use in elementary schoolchildren. By teaching children that eatinghealthy and being physically active everyday can be fun. The CATCH program hasproven that establishing healthy habits inchildhood can promote healthy behaviorsthat carry over into adulthood.www.sph.uth.tmc.edu/catch/

Planet Health – Middle School: Developedby the Harvard Prevention Research Center

as a middle schoolinterdisciplinary nutrition andphysical activity curriculum.It focuses on skills andcompetencies, introduces andreinforces simple healthmessages, promotes activelearning and literacy, and

integrates classroom and family learningexperiences. www.humankinetics.com

Sports, Play and Active Recreation forKids (SPARK) – K-8 and after school: Thefocus of SPARK is thedevelopment of healthylife-styles, motor skillsand movementknowledge, and socialand personal skills.www.sparkpe.org

Evidence-Based Curriculaand Best Practices

Eat Well & Keep Moving – K-5:Developed by the Harvard PreventionResearch Center as an upper elementaryschool interdisciplinary nutrition andphysical activity curriculum. Involvescollaboration among food services, physicaleducation, and parent/communityinvolvement.www.humankinetics.com

Take 10! – K- 5: A classroom-based physicalactivity program that maintains a focus onacademics. Includes 10-minute periods ofvaried activity and movement in allacademic areas that requires minimalteacher preparation. www.take10.net

Michigan Model for ComprehensiveSchool Health Education – K-12th gradecomprehensive school health educationcurriculum. The K-6 curriculum isorganized around the 10 content areas ofcomprehensive school health education. The7-12 curriculum is organized around the sixcritical behaviors identified by the CDC.www.emc.cmich.edu

Recharge – After school for grades 3-6:Team-based innovative after-school programfilled with activities that teach kids thecore concept ofhow energy in –good nutrition –makes for energyout – physicalactivity. It isavailable fromAction for HealthyKids and the National Football League.www.actionforhealthykids.org

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The following are examples of best practices:

VERB™ It’s what you do – A national,multicultural, social marketing campaigncoordinated by the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services’ Centersfor Disease Control andPrevention (CDC). TheVERB campaign encouragesyoung people ages 9–13(tween years) to be physicallyactive everyday. The campaigncombines paid advertising, marketingstrategies, and partnership efforts to reachthe distinct audiences of tweens and adults/influencers. For more information go to:http://www.cdc.gov/youthcampaign/. Visitthe tween site at http://www.verbnow.com/

Powerful Girls, Powerful Bones – Aprogram designed to teach young girls howto eat right, be physically active and achievetheir best when it comes to the health of theirbones. Aimed at teachinghealthy and fun ways tolearn weight bearingactivities and thenutrition needed in orderto avoid osteoporosis. Formore information go to:http://www.cdc.gov/powerfulbones/

Healthy Kids Challenge – A step-by-stepguide that involves school administratorsand board members, teachers, school foodservice directors, family, children andcommunity partners to build healthy

communities. The majority ofactivities are written for gradesK-5,.yet can be adapted to anyage group. You can receive freeinformation atwww.healthykidschallenge.com

If you have specific questions, or needs,please call 888-259-6287 or via e-mail atvickie@st-tel.net. There are several supportdocuments available including: “Letter toAdministrators,” “Benefits to Schools,”Need for HKC Statistics,” and “TheChallenge Starter Tool”.

President’s Challenge – This community-based program encourages youth from ages6 through 17 to begin and continue dailyexercise and activity, to reach healthy levelsof cardiovascular endurance, bodycomposition, muscular strength/endurance,and flexibility. There are currently threedifferent programs offered with thePresident’s Challenge: Active LifestyleProgram, Physical Fitness Program, andHealth Fitness Program. Any of the aboveprograms may be selected to be promoted inyour community.www.presidentschallenge.org

Safe Routes to Schools – Is a popularprogram spreading across Canada and theU.S. designed to decrease traffic andpollution and increase the health of childrenand the community. The program promoteswalking and biking toschool througheducation and promotesincentives that show howmuch fun walking andbiking can be. Theprogram also addressesthe safety concerns ofparents by encouraginggreater enforcement of traffic laws,educating the public, and exploring ways tocreate safer streets.www.saferoutestoschool.org

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Policy and environmental changeinterventions are population-based approachesthat complement and strengthen other publichealth programs and activities that traditionallyhave focused on individual behavior change.

Policies include laws, regulations, andformal and informal rules. Examples include allschools offering physical education duringschool hours; laws and regulations for whatshould be included in vending machines atschools; laws and regulations to restrict smokingon school campuses; or regulations permittingstudents to carry and administer their ownasthma medications.

Environmental changes are implemented toimprove the economic, social, or physicalenvironments of the school. Examples includeincorporating walking paths or recreation areasinto school campuses; offering low-fat foods inschool cafeterias; removing designated smokingareas from school campuses; or reducingexposure to asthma triggers, such as secondhandsmoke in schools.

Policy and Environmental ChangeModel Policies

Suggested school health policies for schoolsto adapt and implement to provide physicalactivity opportunities for students and staffinclude:3

Students in grades K-12 havingopportunities, support, andencouragement to be physically activeon a regular basis.Schools providing physical educationto foster lifelong habits of physicalactivity.Classroom health education willcomplement physical education byreinforcing the knowledge and self-management skills needed to maintain aphysically active lifestyle and to reducetime spent on sedentary activities, suchas watching television.Opportunities for physical activity to beincorporated into other content lessons.Classroom teachers providing shortphysical activity breaks between lessonsor classes, as appropriate.

Walking School Bus - What is a WalkingSchool Bus? It is a small group of studentsaccompanied by one or more adults on theirwalks to and from school. Typically, thestudents live near one another. Chances are,they already walk to school, with or withoutadult supervision. The benefit of the WalkingSchool Bus is that it provides a consistent,supervised system in which children canwalk under the watchful eye of an adult–usually a parent or caregiver.http://www.walkingbus.org/index.html

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�Elementary school students having atleast 20 minutes per day of supervisedrecess, preferably outdoors. Duringrecess, schools should encouragemoderate to vigorous physical activityverbally, and through the provision ofadequate space and equipment.Elementary, middle, and high schoolsoffering extracurricular physical activityprograms, such as physical activity clubsor intramural programs.After-school childcare providingand encouraging daily periods ofmoderate to vigorous physical activity forall participants.

Teachers and other school and communitypersonnel will not use physical activity (e.g.running laps, push-ups) or withholdopportunities for physical activity (e.g.recess, physical education) as punishment.

The incidence of obesity and overweightamong American children has tripled since the1960’s, according to the National Health Nutri-tion Examination Survey (2000). To address thisissue the American Academy of Pediatrics(AAP) issued a policy statement in May 2006,Active Healthy Living: Prevention of ChildhoodObesity through Increased Physical Activity.

This statement encourages all doctorsand health care professionals to promote betternutrition and more physical activity amongchildren by working with families and communi-ties, especially through in-school programs.

This policy statement also adviseddoctors to check children’s weight, diet and level

The American Academy of PediatricsPolicy Statement (excerpt)4

of physical activity more regularly. It encouragesdoctors to work with families at identifying whatimpedes healthy living and to suggest positivemoves when needed.

The statement stresses the importance ofparental example—parents who eat well andadopt a healthy lifestyle serve as excellent rolemodels for their children. The policy statementalso asks that doctors encourage:

Bringing back compulsory physicalactivity programsCommunity and school programs aimedat getting children activeMake sure school recess times areprotected

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Fit’N Active Kidswww.safetylca.org/i/200406.asp?loc=i&tag=i2&pg=newsletters.asp&page=200406childsafety.htm

Fitnessgram/Activity Gramwww.cooperinst.org/ftgmain.asp

Kentucky Association for Health, PhysicalEducation, Recreation and Dance (KAHPERD)www.kahperd.com

Kentucky Association for School Healthwww.kentuckyschoolhealth.org

Kentucky Department for Public Healthwww.chfs.ky.gov

Kentucky Department of Educationwww.education.ky.gov

Kentucky Education Television Networkwww.ket.org

National Association for Sport and PhysicalEducationwww.aahperd.org/naspe/template.cfm

Internet ResourcesLast accessed 9/1/06

AAHPERD, 2006 Shape of the Nation Reportwww.aahperd.org

ADA EVIDENCE LIBRARYwww.adaevidencelibrary.com

American Academy of Pediatrics www.aap.org

American Heart Associationwww.americanheart.org

Body and Mind Teachers Cornerwww.bam.gov/teachers/index.htm

Body Recall Inc www.bodyrecallinc.org

CDC Division of Adolescent and SchoolHealthhttp://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/

CDC Division of Nutrition and PhysicalActivityhttp://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/

Resources

More research into the prevention ofchildhood obesity – and more fundingfor itMore safe recreational facilities whichcan allow children to become moreactive, such as parks, playgrounds,cycling paths, etc.School programs aimed at good nutritionSchool wellness councils

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National Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity:www.ncppa.org/about.html

Partnership for a Fit Kentucky: www.fitky.org

Physical Activity and Health: Report of theSurgeon General: http://wonder.cdc.gov/wonder/prevguid/m0042984/m0042984.asp#head001000000000000

The Community Guide:www.thecommunityguide.org

Wellness Junction: www.wellnessjunction.com

Physical Activity

Additional ResourcesLast accessed 9/1/06

Cohen, J. Overweight Kids: Why Should WeCare? California Research Bureau, 2000: 1-42. A review of the problem of obesity amongchildren and how we can provide solutions tothe problem.www.library.ca.gov/crb/00/08/00-008.pdf

DHHS Research, major resources, questionsand answers on Policy and Administration:www.hhs.gov.

Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn: A SchoolHealth Policy Guide. 2006 National Associationof State Boards of Education. Is designed to helpstate and local decision makers establisheffective policies that promote high academic

achievement and lifelong healthhabits. It provides guidance ongeneral school health policiesand program development, aswell as specific information onphysical education programdesign, safety requirements,

food service programs, smoking cessationservices, and lifelong sun safety habits.www.nasbe.org.

Fletcher GF, Balady G, Blair SN, Blumenthal J,Caspersen C, Chaitman B, Epstein S, FroelicherESS, Froelicher VF, Pina IL, Pollock ML.Statement on Exercise: Benefits andRecommendations for Physical ActivityPrograms for all Americans. American HeartAssociation Medical/Scientific Statement,1996. A paper on the benefits of exercise andhow each American, regardless of age, canbenefit by its daily implementation. Acombination of recommendations and simpleapplications. http://circ.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/94/4/857

Foo, MA, Robinson, J, Rhodes, M, Lew, LS,Chao, M, Dy, SS, Eir, W. Identifying policyopportunities to increase physical activity inthe Southeast Asian Community in LongBeach, California. Journal Of HealthEducation, 1999; 30 (2 Supplement): S58-S63.Innovative ways to increase physical activitythrough changes in policy and the builtenvironment. Many different crossovertechniques to be applied in other communities.Frank, LD, Engelke, P. http://www.cdc.gov/cdp/he.htm, enter report name in Simple Search.

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How Land Use and Transportation SystemsImpact Public Health: A Literature Review

of the RelationshipBetween PhysicalActivity and BuiltForm. ACE’s WorkingPaper #1.CDC, 2000: 147 pp. Apaper on the importanceof the built environmentin improving dailyphysical activity andhealth. As well as howthe misuse of land useand transportation can

limit physical activity and have adverse effectson the national health levels. Review pdf at:http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/health_professionals/active_environments/aces.htm

Heart Monitors. Heart monitors can equip youwith the tools to develop personalized healthand fitness portfolios, objectively assess yourpatient’s health and fitness, and track individualperformance. The individual will learn tomonitor and maintain a health-enhancing level ofphysical fitness and take personal ownership ofworking to improve their fitness and skill level.Heart monitors should only be purchased andused in conjunction with a recommendedphysical activity program.

Increasing Physical Activity ThroughCommunity Design: A Guidefor Public HealthPractitioners. This guide focuses on helping tocreate an active community environment,looking at the broader scope of where there areand aren’t opportunities to safely walk andbicycle. It involves land use design, retrofittingthe transportation infrastructure, funding, and

much more. This step-by-step guide discusses howhealth professionals,community leaders, localplanners, transportationagency officials, andcitizens can work togetherto develop activecommunity environments.www.bikewalk.org. Click NCBWPublications.

Kentucky’s Nutrition and Physical ActivityState Action Plan February 2005. Thisdocument includes Kentucky specific data,which will provide a basic understanding of theseverity of the problem facing Kentucky,describes structural changes in society that havecontributed to the problem, describes the CDCframework for addressing the problem and liststhe goals, objectives and strategies Kentucky hasset to address these issues. www.fitky.org.

Kentucky School Board Association, ModelPolicies on School Health. Contact Dara Bass,Director of Policy and Procedure Service,1-800-372-2962, extension 220.

Lindberg, Rebecca, MPH, RD. Active Living:On the Road with the 10,000 steps program.Journal of the American Dietetic Association,1000;100(8). Implementation of the 10,000 stepsa day program underthe SurgeonGeneral’srecommendations.Improving healthwith simple steps andproviding an active living guide where everylittle bit counts. http://xnet.kp.org/permanentejournal/spring03/steps.html

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Partnership for a Fit Kentucky (PFK).Partnership for a Fit Kentucky is an umbrellaorganization with the role of being theclearinghouse for all nutrition and physicalactivity interventionsthroughout the state. PFKcollaborates withKentucky’s Action forHealthy Kids (AFHK) toreduce duplication andmaximize resources inorder to create systemicand strategic changes thatresult in healthier school environments. For moreinformation about PFK contact Elaine Russellwith the Obesity Prevention Program atElaine.Russell@ky.gov or 502-564-3827,extension 3843.

Pedometers. Pedometers are used as a mentalreminder that fitness is important. Pedometersprovide motivation to increasedaily physical activity levels.They provide the ability tomeasurer how much exercise(steps, miles, calories) one hasaccomplished. Pedometers canvary in type and function.Pedometers should only be purchased and usedin conjunction with a recommended physicalactivity program.

Promoting Health: Intervention Strategies forSocial and Behavioral Research. Institute ofMedicine, National AcademyPress, Washington, DC, 2000.More ways in which socialmarketing can provide solutionsfor health problems connectedwith physical inactivity and poornutrition. This report identifiesimportant areas of research andincludes over 20 recommendations regarding

needed steps in intervention, research, fundingand training.http://www.iom.edu/cms/3793/5551.aspx

Siegel, M, Doner, L. Marketing public health:strategies to promote social change. AspenPublications, Gaithersburg, MD, 1998. A bookon social marketing and promotion of changeconnected to health behaviors.

The Commonwealth of KentuckyTransportation Cabinet’s Pedestrian & BicycleTravel Policy July 2002. This book providesguidance to improve accessibility and safety fornon-motorized travel—such as walking orbiking—on Kentucky’s urban and ruralroadways. Public interest in and demand forpedestrian and bicyclefacilities are determined atthe planning andpreliminary engineeringpublic-involvement stagesof a transportation project.

This policy can be used topromote and to educatelocal officials about healthy transportationalternatives and how they can factor walking andbiking into all new or reconstructed roadwayprojects in their community. Web site: http://www.bikewalk.ky.gov/ Click on Law andPolicies. Click Pedestrian and Bicycle TravelPolicy.

Wellness Policy Guidance. Developed incollaboration with the CDC and the U.S.Department of Education. This U.S. Departmentof Agriculture (USDA) web site providesinformation on how to create, implement, andevaluate wellness policies that meet therequirements of federal law.http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/healthy/wellnesspolicy.html

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Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the difference between physical activity, physical exercise, and physical fitness?

Physical Activity

Physical activity is any bodily movement produced by skeletal muscles that result in anexpenditure of energy.

Physical Exercise

Exercise is physical activity that is planned or structured. It involves repetitive bodily movementto improve or maintain one or more of the components of physical fitness—cardiorespiratoryendurance (aerobic fitness), muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and bodycomposition.

Physical fitness

Physical fitness is a set of attributes a person has in regards to their ability to perform physicalactivities that require aerobic fitness, endurance, strength, or flexibility and is determined by acombination of regular activity and genetically inherited ability.

How can physical activity help prevent overweight and obesity?

Physical activity, along with a healthy diet, plays an important role in the prevention ofoverweight and obesity. In order to maintain a stable weight, a person needs to balance theamount of calories consumed and the number of calories burned.

Although the body burns calories for everyday functions such as breathing, digestion androutine daily activities, people can consume more calories than they need for these functions. Agood way to burn off extra calories and prevent weight gain is to engage in regular physicalactivity beyond routine activities.

Physical Activity

INTAKE OUTPUTCalories from food Calories Used During

Physical activity

The energy balance is like a scale.To remain in balance the caloriesconsumed (from food) must bebalanced by the calories used(in physical activity).

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The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 offers the following example of the balancebetween consuming and using calories:

Physical Activity

For more information on the role of physical activity in preventing overweight and obesity,visit:

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005. http://www.healthierus.gov/dietaryguidelines/Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture(USDA)

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Obesity and Overweight:Overweight and Obesity: What You Can Do: www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Consuming 100 more calories eachday than you burn results in

10 additional pounds in one year.

How does being overweight or obese affect a person’s health?

When people are or overweight or obese, they are more likely to develop health problemssuch as the following:

HypertensionDyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)Type 2 DiabetesCoronary Heart DiseaseStrokeGallbladder DiseaseOsteoarthritisSleep apnea and respiratory problemsSome cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)

The more overweight a person is, the more likely they will have health problems. Amongpeople who are overweight and obese, weight loss can help reduce the chances of developing thesehealth problems. Studies show that if a person is overweight or obese, reducing body weight by 5 to10 percent can improve one’s health.

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Do You Know the Health Risks of Being Overweight? National Institute of Diabetesand Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK):http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/health_risks.htm.

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight andObesity, Overweight and Obesity: Health Consequences: www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Physical Activity

To read more about how being overweight or obese can affect health, visit:

The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight andObesity, Overweight in Children and Adolescents www.surgeongeneral.gov.

Obesity and Genetics: A Public Health Perspective. CDC, Office of Genomics andDisease Preventionhttp://www.cdc.gov/genomics/training/perspectives/obesity.htm.

What are some of the factors that contribute to overweight and obesity?

Researchers have found that several factors can contribute to the likelihood of someone’sbecoming overweight or obese.

Behaviors: What people eat and their level of physical activity help determine whether they willgain weight. A number of factors can influence diet and physical activity, including personalcharacteristics of the individual, the individual’s environment, cultural attitudes, and financialsituation.

Genetics: Heredity plays a role in determining how susceptible people are to becomingoverweight or obese. Genes can influence how the body burns calories for energy and how thebody stores fat.

To read more about the factors that can contribute to overweight and obesity, visit

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Last accessed 9/1/06

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System 2003.2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pediatric & Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance

System 2003.2. National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity. Model School Wellness Policies.

http://www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org/.4. American Academy of Pediatrics. Active Healthy Living: Prevention of Childhood Obesity

through Increased Physical Activity, Pediatrics. 2006; 1834-1842.http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;117/5/1834

References

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How much physical activity should our children receive for proper development?

Both the U.S. Surgeon General and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)recommend that children and adolescents participate in at least 60 minutes of moderate levelphysical activity on most days of the week. Children and adolescents can choose any type ofmoderate or higher intensity physical activity, such as brisk walking, playing tag, jumping rope, orswimming, as long as it is adds up to at least one hour a day.

For children and adolescents, regular physical activity has beneficial effects on the followingaspects of health:

Healthy weightIncreased muscular strengthImproved cardiorespiratory (aerobic) fitnessIncreased bone mass (through weight-bearing physical activities)Healthy blood pressure (for hypertensive youth)Lower levels of anxiety and stressImproved self-esteem and sleep patterns leading to increased capacity for learningRelief from the symptoms of depression

Children and adolescents who are just beginning to be physically active should start out slowly,gradually building to a higher level in order to prevent the risk of injury or feeling defeated fromunrealistic goals. It is important that children and adolescents are encouraged to be physically activeby doing things that interest them. This will help them establish an active life-style.

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Contact Information

Cabinet for Health and Family ServicesKentucky Department for Public Health275 East Main StreetFrankfort, KY 40621502-564-4830, 1-800-462-6122http:chfs.ky.gov

Irene Centers, BA – Program Manager, Tobacco Prevention and CessationIrene.Centers@ky.gov, phone extension 3808. Funding from the Centers for Disease Control andPrevention

Christos Dimitriadis, MS - Physical Activity Coordinator, Obesity Prevention ProgramChristos.Dimitriadis@ky.gov, phone extension 3847. Funding from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention

Victoria Greenwell, BSW, MA - Administrator, Coordinated School HealthVictoria.Greenwell@ky.gov, phone extension 3588. Funding from the Centers for Disease Controland Prevention Division of Adolescent and School Health

Jennye Grider, BA – Coordinator, Physical Activity Program Jennye.Grider@ky.gov,phone extension 3795. Funding from the Preventative Health and Health Services Block Grants

Tricia McLendon, MPH – Coordinator, Asthma ProgramPatricia.McLendon@ky.gov, phone extension 3819

Elaine Russell, MS, RD, LD - Nutrition Services Coordinator, Obesity PreventionProgram Elaine.Russell@ky.gov, phone extension 3843. Funding from theCenters for Disease Control and Prevention

Kentucky Department of EducationNutrition and Health Services2545 Lawrenceburg RoadFrankfort, KY 40601(502) 564-2706http:education.ky.gov

Jim Tackett, M.Ed., CHES – Consultant, Coordinated School Health,James.Tackett@education.ky.gov

Stephanie Bunge, M.Ed., CHES – Consultant, Coordinated School Health,Stephanie.Bunge@education.ky.gov

Funding from the Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDivision of Adolescent and School Health