School-Based Nutrition Education Emily Lyons, RD, LD Community Health Promotion Specialist Arkansas Department of Health

National Obesity Trends

Act 1220: Arkansas Child and Adolescent Obesity Initiative

Act 1220 of 2003 Creates an Arkansas Child Health Advisory Committee. –Make recommendations regarding nutrition and physical activity policy to the State Board of Education and the State Board of Health. Limits access to food/beverage vending machines. –For elementary school students Reports ALL money received from food and beverage contracts. Convenes an advisory committee to raise awareness of the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity. Incorporates nutrition/physical activity goals into annual plans.

Act 1220 of 2003 Provides parents with the child’s BMI results reported on a health report that is delivered to the parents in a private, confidential, and accurate way. Provides parents with an explanation of possible health effects of BMI, nutrition, and physical activity. Provides parents with a few tips they can do.

Since Act 1220

Act 201

Act 201 of 2007 The Division of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services in consultation with the Department of Education shall: –“Assign all community health nurses under its supervision to work with schools to assure that body mass index for age assessment protocols are followed by school employees or their designees who conduct body mass index for age assessments and other student health screenings; and”

Act 201 of 2007 Every school district shall: - Beginning with kindergarten and then in even numbered grades, require schools to include as a part of a student health report to parents a body mass index percentile by age for each student, and - Permit any parent to refuse to have their child’s body mass index percentile for age assessed and reported, by providing a written refusal to the school.

Proper Nutrition….. Is a vital part of overall health and wellness Provides the nutrients and energy needed for growth and development Promotes learning and academic achievement Helps prevent many health problems, including OBESITY

Why Do We Need School-Based Nutrition Education? Schools can reach almost all children and adolescents. Schools provide opportunities to practice healthy eating. Schools can teach students how to resist social pressures. Skilled personnel are available. Evaluations suggest that school-based nutrition education can improve the eating behaviors of young persons. CDC

Nutrition Education Available in pre-K through grade 12 Focuses on skill development Integrated into core curriculum Dining room and classroom are linked CDC

Resources You Can Use!

Resources You Can Use: United States Department of Agriculture -MyPyramid - -Team Nutrition -

Resources You Can Use: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -BAM! Body and Mind - -Powerful Bones. Powerful Girls. -

Resources You Can Use: American Dietetic Association -

Emily Lyons, RD, LD Community Health Promotion Specialist Tommie Rogers, RN, BSN Community Health Nurse Specialist

“This issue is not an easy one. It needs creative ideas, strong wills, and our most dedicated efforts to find ways to make school environments supportive of good health and nutrition.” - Former USDA Secretary Dan Glickman

References