 Research Findings and Need for Nutrition Policies for Challenges to Healthy Development  Risks include: Food insecurity Malnutrition and overnutrition Obesity Physical activity and exercise ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Food insecurity  Food insecurity with hunger= very low food security  Malnutrition  Overnutrition ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Very low food security affects  Stunting/growth retardation  Impaired brain function  Vulnerability to infection and disease  Poor nutrition in the first three years of life can compromise a child’s mental development  Children with chronic health conditions may be more likely to be malnourished due to organic problems and eating ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Even a slight degree of malnutrition can affect how the brain develops  Effects can be reversed on a very young child ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Prevention  Nutrition education  A balanced diet  Healthy food preparation methods  Teachers look for signs of food insecurity like: Hoarding food Stealing food Always asking for more food Behavioral changes such as lack of concentration ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Most prevalent nutritional disease in children 18 years of age and younger – Major public health issue  As of 2010 it is one of the health indicators in Dietary Guidelines for Americans and became a whole section in the 3 rd Edition of Caring for Our Children – AAP and APHA  Related to the child’s built environment ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Measured by the Body Mass Index (BMI) compares weight to height  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies children in the 95 th percentile and higher as obese  May be ethnically linked – higher ratio of obesity among Hispanics and African Americans ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Factors Related to Childhood Obesity  Television viewing and computer use  Sugary snacks  Sugary beverages  Lack of exercise  Skipping breakfast  Genetics  Food as emotional comfort  Portion size  Fast Food ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 What suggestions might you have to help children choose more wisely if they are eating at a fast food restaurant? ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension  Too many calories, too much fat, too much cholesterol  Can lead to development of coronary atherosclerosis, hypertension or coronary heart disease

 Cardiovascular Disease and Hypertension  Risk factors High cholesterol Being male Diabetes mellitus High blood pressure Genetics  Other Effects  Impaired immune system, stress on joints, sleep apnea and asthma ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Preventive Measures  Increased physical activity  Diet management  Behavior modification  Adoption of school wellness policies ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 2008 Physical Activity for Americans Key Guidelines for Children and Adolescents  Aerobic  Muscle-strengthening  Bone-strengthening  Other recommendations for physical activity from:  Let’s Move  AAP  NASPE  NAP SACC ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Dietary Guidelines for Americans reflect the fact that physical activity is needed to balance food intake ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Time for physical activities and exercise is a necessary part of creating nutritional policies  Children have at least one hour of unstructured active play in a day  Toddlers should be provided with 30 minutes of structured play everyday  Preschoolers should have at least one hour of structured play that allows for movement and physical activity ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 A great majority of ads on television and electronic media are for foods that are low in nutritional value. What types of “hooks” are used to sell children these food? ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Families  Provide them nutritional information  Help connect low-income families to food resources  Suggestions for safe physical activities at home  Help families of children with disabilities or other special needs to connect to resources, if needed ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Cultural competency through Learning about families favorite foods and preparation methods Survey for information Provide information for healthier selections Introduce families to foods children have in care Being culturally sensitive  Activities for Family Engagement ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.

 Curriculum for Children  Talk about food and nutrition often, especially during meals  Look at labels  Physical exercise experiences  Books and dramatic play ©2016 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved.