The headline says it all: "Inequality in the Built Environment Underlies Key Health Disparities in Physical Activity and Obesity." That's the bottom line from a new study in the journal Pediatrics, which finds that areas with higher socio-economic status were significantly more likely than lower-economic and high-minority blocks to have one or more recreational facilities that enable physical activity. This is the first study to look at the disparity in access to recreation sites and the activity and overweight patterns in U.S. teens.
The largest and most comprehensive study of hunger to date contains some stunning findings. As many as 27 million people, including 9 million children, get emergency food help each year from America's Second Harvest. About 36 percent of adults served are employed. Many families who experience food insecurity say they've had to choose between buying food and paying for their utilities, rent or mortgage, or medical care. Food pantries and emergency service organizations rely heavily on volunteers to get their work done.
Alarming statistics on the growing numbers of overweight and obese children and teens are getting the attention of school boards, parents, and public health officials. This story, reprinted from Youth Communication's New Youth Connections magazine, is by teen writer Natelege Whaley, who looks at programs aimed at helping teens stay healthy.
The Child Nutrition Achives at the National Food Service Management Institute hosts its first symposium on Child Nutrition Programs March 20-21 on the Oxford campus of the University of Mississippi.
CFK reports from: The New Normal? What Girls Say About Healthy Living Event: Release of research report; panel discussion Organized by: Girl Scout Research Institute Where/When: National Press Club, Washington DC, Wednesday, January 25, 2006
This latest report by the research arm of the Girls Scouts of the U.S.A. takes a look at the attitudes of girls aged 8 to 17 towards healthy living, weight, body image and exercise. It's based on focus group interviews in four communities, an online survey of more than 2,000 girls and their mothers, and a separate survey of 400 African American, Latina and Asian girls.
The purpose of the Nutrition and Physical Activity Policy Resource Guide, developed by the Washington State Department of Health, is to create a comprehensive tool for the prioritization and development of nutrition and physical activity policy options for state, local, regional and private jurisdictions. The resource guide outlines policy options, provides examples of promising and proven policies, and reviews their effectiveness. The nutrition and physical activity policy examples are divided into community, school, worksite and healthcare domains. Institutional and public policy changes are critical to achieving sustained behavioral change. Policy and environmental changes that support healthy communities, healthy organizations and healthy choices are cornerstones in the public health world. This resource provides some promising approaches for addressing obesity, inactivity and poor nutrition.
Research shows that children who don't have healthy eating habits have lower test scores, increased absenteeism, difficulty concentrating and lower energy levels. School principals are key advocates in the fight for better student nutrition and wellness, but they need prodding and support from parents to make real change happen. This campaign is helping parents get active in their children's schools—starting with a letter inviting principals to join the effort to get junk food out and physical activity in schools.
The Children's Advocacy Institute at the University of San Diego law school has released its 2005 Children's Legislative Report Card, which describes the year and examines several child-friendly bills in the areas of economic security, nutrition, health and safety, child care, and child protection. Legislators' floor votes are detailed. Of the 20 child-friendly measures featured in the Report Card, 18 were sent to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger's desk for his consideration; he ultimately vetoed over one-third of them.
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