Helping Youth Lead the Charge Against Childhood Obesity
Childhood obesity is an ongoing problem in Wisconsin. The 2009 Wisconsin Youth Risk Behavior Survey shows 9% of high school students are obese, and an overwhelming majority of students have adopted some pretty unhealthy habits that are bound to catch up with them as they reach adulthood:
- 81% aren’t eating enough fruits and vegetables
- 57% did not attend physical education classes daily in school
- 23% watched TV three or more hours per day on an average school day
A poor diet and inactivity has been linked to serious conditions, like diabetes, stroke, heart disease and cancer, so it’s critically important that kids get started on the right track early.
Wisconsin’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program developed a statewide plan in 2005, and it’s showing some promising results. Obesity was reduced by 2% among high school kids from 2007 to 2009, but we all must pitch in to help teach our children healthier habits and life choices.
Thankfully, there is some financial assistance for community groups and schools that are helping our kids. The folks over at UnitedHealth Group asked me to help get the word out about their HEROES program. They’re backing programs that put youth in charge: Grants will go to programs that encourage young people to work with educators and youth leaders to design and implement hands-on programs to fight childhood obesity.
UnitedHealth Group tells me that grants of up to $1,000 will be awarded to programs that:
- demonstrate a clear understanding of the health risks associated with childhood obesity
- propose creative solutions to fighting obesity in their schools and communities
- can be easily implemented, scaled and measured
Do you know a group that’s working with smart, creative young people who are looking to make a difference? Make sure they download an application at www.YSA.org/HEROES. The deadline is midnight on Oct. 22, 2010.
“We are helping young people take action to improve their overall health and quality of life in a way that’s not only educational, but beneficial for their communities,” said UnitedHealth Group Executive Vice President Jeannine Rivet. “We look forward to seeing the creative ideas young people come up with to help fight obesity and encourage healthier living.”
To learn about the health and wellness incentives I authored and passed this session, go to SenatorSullivan.com or email me at Sen.Sullivan@legis.wisconsin.gov.
28 COMMENTS
-
0
2
Click thumb to rate
0
2
Please login to rate
I'd like to welcome all of you who came here after viewing Senator Sullivan's Sept 3rd post on bicycling in Wisconsin. I'm sure the Senator would welcome you to post your comments here on what you think he, as a powerful State Senator, should do to combat this childhood obesity problem.
- Share
-
-
1
1
Click thumb to rate
1
1
Please login to rate
Senator Sullivan,
- Share
-
-
0
1
Click thumb to rate
0
1
Please login to rate
Carpie, yep my suggestion did sound more like brown shirts. But what's the alternative? All of the information is available concerning the deleterious effects of overweight . But informing is not the same as choosing. And if you really believe that a grossly overweight population is unacceptable, you'd have to agree that extreme measures may be warranted.
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
It's been a while since I've been in school (or my kids for that matter), but I do remember that the 'free' lunches did NOT include the ala carte items that were available. (Even the salad bar was off-limits.) That may not be the case now, but it was way-back-when.
- Share
-
-
0
1
Click thumb to rate
0
1
Please login to rate
You said it Stub!
- Share
-
-
0
1
Click thumb to rate
0
1
Please login to rate
Excellent suggestion, SantasElf. I'll join you in this effort to spread the word. Hey, I'm just trying to do my part to make this world a better place for the children.
- Share
-
-
0
1
Click thumb to rate
0
1
Please login to rate
Well Sully, you've sure stirred the pot with this compelling blog entry. I am certain that with your sensitivity toward the issue and your unmistakable zeal for public service, you are interested in following up on this compelling topic with carefully thought out yet forceful effective legislation.
- Share
-
-
1
1
Click thumb to rate
1
1
Please login to rate
You hit the nail on the head, Tine. The schools cover their behinds by telling us dumb residents that they OFFER healthy choices for food and suddenly, that's supposed to be the end of the discussion. What they DON'T say is how many kids actually CHOOSE those same healthier choices that are offered for lunch. Why do you suppose that is (rhetorical question)? It's almost certainly because that number is probably close to zero in comparison to all the students who take the free (taxpayer subsidized) lunch at school. Parents whose kids take the school-supplied lunch know that I'm right.
- Share
-
-
0
1
Click thumb to rate
0
1
Please login to rate
First Sully, I'd like to note the absence of off the wall comments by your Maoist contingent of supporters. How refreshing.
- Share
-
-
0
0
Click thumb to rate
0
0
Please login to rate
I'd say inability to resist is a trait we share, Stub. As to people nowadays being lazy, well, I don't know many lazy people. Most people I know are working hard to keep things afloat. I guess I worry more about tending to my own garden in that regard. And sixth grade kids? Lazy is part of the program. I don't know about their mothers but I remember the stress of getting my kids out the door and getting to work and the truth is I don't KNOW what they took for lunch most days. That was their responsibility from pretty early on.
- Share
-
Load more comments View all comments Back to topStubbornOldMan - Sep 02, 2010 12:07 PM - Report Abuse
StubbornOldMan - Sep 02, 2010 11:56 AM - Report Abuse
If you've been paying attention to the comments on this latest 'fat kids' blog of yours, you will notice one very unique thing. There seems to be an uncommon consensus among liberals and conservatives within your constituency who seem to agree that the junk food offerings in the schools' lunch programs should be DRASTICALLY reduced (I suggest eliminating the junk food entirely). What a novel opportunity for you to actually DO SOMETHING to enact the collective will of your constituency for once. I mean, it's not like 'photo-ID for voting' which you absolutely reject while most of your law-abiding NON-ideological-Democratic constituency endorse.
RECENT COLUMNIST'S VIEWS on the topic:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/99982364.html
RECENT NEWS FACTS on the topic:
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/101819378.html
But, I digress...
What do you plan to do in this regard to essentially indirectly FORCE some of our fat kids who take the free (taxpayer subsidized) school lunch to become healthier? Remember, it's government's resposibility to feed kids in the public schools with the free (taxpayer subsidized) lunches, NOT the parents' responsibility, right (insert sarcastic groan here)? What will you do to live up to your moral and ethical responsibility to ensure our kids become healthier? I KNOW of a few things that will work, and it will save us dumb taxpayers considerable money as well, but we'd like to hear YOUR proposals directly from you. You are a person who can actually DO something about it right now. I hope your kids aren't fat yet.
Perhaps this could be an agenda item during your next few THMs, Senator. Please let us know when and where these THMs will be held by posting the schedule on this blog of yours. We'd all like to discuss childhood obesity and any other legislative matters that may arise with you at these meetings.
Have a nice day.
Santas Elf - Sep 02, 2010 9:25 AM - Report Abuse
Is it a whole lot different than the polio curfews of the 1940's. That was the only effective measure available to fight polio, so society made the decision that polio prevention trumped a kids freedom to roam about during the summer months when the epidemic was rampant. Fair - no. Effective - yes!
What's a better alternative?
Wooden snicker bars won't work!
CarpieD - Sep 02, 2010 8:49 AM - Report Abuse
Elf: some of your suggestions sound less like brown-baggers and more like brown shirts. (I knew you invited some negative comments...)
Santas Elf - Sep 02, 2010 8:26 AM - Report Abuse
Who cares if a couple old folks trapped in their homes by a depressed housing market get their marginal social security chewed up by ever higher property taxes? Hey Church and Chapel can always stack the corpses in a shed till the state renews their cremation license.
It's all about the children!
StubbornOldMan - Sep 02, 2010 6:39 AM - Report Abuse
Santas Elf - Sep 01, 2010 10:09 PM - Report Abuse
To that end, I'd like to suggest a series of town hall meetings so that your full constituency including those who don't have computers or can't read (a majority I suspect) have a fair and complete opportunity to participate in democracy and be heard by an official in high public office such as yourself.
If you would direct your eMinion to publish your schedule of town hall meetings in the next blog entry, we will respond by spreading the word throughout the district to insure a robust turnout for you.
All the best in the critical days ahead.
StubbornOldMan - Sep 01, 2010 1:12 PM - Report Abuse
It's politically incorrect to deny that stereotypical 140-pound 6th grader the free (taxpayer subsidized) pizza, fries, Coke and Snickers bar at lunch that he's been woofing down since he was in Kindegarden. The only way to do it in the schools is to not even have that choice of garbage food available at all. If the fat parents want to do that to their own fat kids, fine. Let them. At that point, that's one less fat 6th grader who's getting a free (taxpayer subsized) junk food lunch at school since the parents are supplying Little Johnny is fatty lunch. Or, that fat 6th grader may actually become healthier, in part, because of the better foods he's eating at the school-supplied free (taxpayer subsidized) lunch. It's a win-win situation, either way.
The problem is that would take initiative by people in power who can actually change these things. Are you listening, Senator Sullivan? One of us should ask Leah Vukmir these same questions, but Leah Vukmir probably doesn't read this blog. For that matter, there's no evidence that Senator Sullivan reads this blog of his, either.
Hope & Change!
Santas Elf - Sep 01, 2010 12:19 PM - Report Abuse
Second, permit me to observe that obesity among school kids will not end prior to the end of obesity among both parents, teachers and staff of our local schools. You can offer all of the healthy diet cafeteria foods you want, but the sight of some adult porker waddling down the hall carrying her gallon bag of chips and liter of non diet coke is going to subvert the entire thing.
What I believe is needed is an annual series of mandatory meetings and followups of both parents and school staff together with qualified dietitians and exercise physiologists. If the parents don't show, the kids can't go till the following year.
During these meetings proper nutrition and exercise at home and at school ought to be discussed, the athletic program and school lunch offering for the year ought to be presented and approved by parents, and proposed disciplinary action for students as well as staff who do not comply with the program needs to be explained.
I know! I know! I can here the cat calls and negativism already. But upon close examination I do not believe that there is anything in these recommendations which will be sustained as unconstitutional in our highest courts.
Our nation can not fall prey to the gluttony being shoved down it's throats by retailers and media 24/7.
It's time to get peed off!
Tine - Sep 01, 2010 10:02 AM - Report Abuse