Transcript Reducing Childhood Obesity: Public Policy and Broad

Reducing Childhood Obesity:
Public Policy and BroadBased Strategies
Newark Public Schools
Marguerite Leuze, RN, DMH
Office of health Services
Major Challenges in Our Communities
Food that is available to the children
locally
Limited food choices in small
local stores
Much of it is high in fat, sugar,
and low in nutrients
Lack of affordable fresh, high
quality fruits and vegetables
Lack of information concerning appropriate
portion sizes
Servings are not in line with dietary
recommendations
– A serving of french fries used to be 2.4 ozs. And
210 calories- it is now 5. 6 ozs. And 530 calories
Servings are not based on age and
actual need
– Children need 1800-2400 calories to maintain a healthy
weight
Healthy Life, 2005
Holiday celebrations, family
celebrations, and birthdays center
around food
Individuals model the cooking and
ingredients from what they learned at
home, therefore, many cultural dishes are
high in fat and sodium
Foods are significant to the family, some
religious practices, and the community
Activity is not always readily available
Parents are concerned for their child’s safety
outdoors
Increased time watching TV, computer
access, and video games
Limited access to playgrounds or gym
equipment
Sports are seasonal and do not usually
provide sustained activity
Lack of Information
Concerning nutritional requirements
Accurate and clear understanding of Nutritional
Facts Labels
Resources and support that is available in the
community
As a nation we eat out twice as much as we did
twenty years ago, which increases our
consumption of empty carbohydrates and high
fructose corn syrup
Half of all food dollars are spent eating out of
the home
Healthy Life, 2005
Public Policy Changes and Programs
Needed to Reduce Childhood Obesity
Increase the number of supermarkets
available throughout the city
Would allow for healthier choices,
increasing
Probably increase the choices
It would probably be more cost effective
Provide transportation
Incorporate Activity
Provide accessible activity
Provide supervised sites for children and teens to
meet formally and informally
Support activity and exercise that is fun and healthy;
dance, bike riding, roller skating, and sports
Provide information on activity that can be done in the
home, such as dance and stretches
Community outreach to Families
Provide family forums in each ward
Incorporate the needs identified in the
surveys from the Newark Department of
Health and Human Services
Provide nutrition information
Incorporate activity that can be performed
in the home
Identify Healthcare Resources
Coordination of resources
Referral of obese children and youth
to a team of specialists
Primary care practitioner
Registered Nurse
Dietician
Counselor
Physical therapist
Social Worker