Arkansas School Children at Obesity Risk

http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=214

James Jefferson, "Arkansas School Children at Obesity Risk", Miami
Herald, September 8, 2004,
Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...th/9609501.htm

A broader analysis of the body mass index numbers for Arkansas school
children shows a growing number of students statewide are overweight
or at risk of obesity, official said Tuesday.

"We are in the middle of an epidemic. That epidemic threatens the
health of our children and risks tearing the fabric of our
communities,' said Dr. Joe Thompson, director of the Arkansas Center
for Health Improvement.

The center, which released results of the state's first BMI reports to
parents in June, released a new study of obesity in children showing
results at the school and school district level showing a statewide
problem that transcends age, gender, economic and ethnic lines.

Among the findings:

_Thirty-eight percent of Arkansas public school students are
overweight or at risk of being overweight.

_Forty-two percent of sixth-grade children are in one of the two
high-risk categories.

_Thirty-nine percent of males and 37 percent of females are considered
overweight or at risk of being too heavy.

_Forty-nine percent of Hispanic males and 44 percent of black females
were identified in one of the to high-risk categories.

_In more than 40 percent of school districts assessed, more than 40
percent of students were overweight or at risk of being overweight.

"Many of our children and adolescents are developing health conditions
now relating to childhood obesity which will claim their lives as
adults and rob our communities and families of a health and productive
citizen," Thompson said.

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who joined ACHI officials in releasing the report
at Indian Hills Elementary, said an additional six community health
education specialists would be assigned to posts across the state to
assist advisory committees being formed at schools to develop and
implement local policies that encourage healthy activities.

The advisory committees were mandated by Act 1220 of 2003, which also
required public schools to conduct an annual BMI screening of all
students.

Thompson said 1,058 of 1,135 public schools in the state - 94 percent
- reported results by July 9, and officials assessed valid individual
data forms for 345,892 students.

Among actions taken to date, officials have banned use of vending
machines at elementary schools during school hours.

Huckabee, who has lost 105 pounds in a year after a diabetes
diagnosis, restated his opposition to such ban at high schools without
scientific evidence of its effect.

"We may need to do it, but we need to do it based on some good data to
determine what will actually improve the health of children. It could
putting healthier snacks in those machines. It could be getting rid of
them altogether," the governor said Tuesday.

He said his position was not based on the income high schools receive
from vending machines, although he acknowledged that could be a factor
for superintendents.

"Ignoramus13725" wrote in message
...
In article , Roman
Bystrianyk wrote:
_Thirty-eight percent of Arkansas public school students are
overweight or at risk of being overweight.

WTF is "at risk of becoming overweight"?

Well, being overweight is being at risk of becoming obese. So, I guess being
normal is a risk of becoming overweight. Or they are just starting to
subdivize. BMI 22 = low risk, BMI 22-25 = risk. But pushing two unrelated
populations (already there and at risk) certainly looks like someone trying
to force a point, even if facts don't fit that well.

"Ignoramus13725" wrote in message
...
In article , Roman
Bystrianyk wrote:
_Thirty-eight percent of Arkansas public school students are
overweight or at risk of being overweight.

WTF is "at risk of becoming overweight"?

Well, being overweight is being at risk of becoming obese. So, I guess being
normal is a risk of becoming overweight. Or they are just starting to
subdivize. BMI 22 = low risk, BMI 22-25 = risk. But pushing two unrelated
populations (already there and at risk) certainly looks like someone trying
to force a point, even if facts don't fit that well.

Three cheers to the state of Arkansas for its efforts to curtail the
epidemic of overweight children. As the Arkansas data points out, a
steadily increasing number of children in the U.S. are sinking into
the chasm of overweight and obesity. Although our nation has declared
war on terrorism, we have failed to mount an organized defense against
the epidemic which is exacting an even heavier toll on our nation's
youth.

The only way to cure the epidemic of overweight and sedentary children
is for all concerned adults--including parents, grandparents,
educators, and caregivers--to take responsibility for helping children
develop a lifestyle of physical fitness and good nutrition. While this
will require some changes at school, it will also demand significant
action at home and in the community. Doing any less simply subjects
our children to the high probability of disease, disability, or
premature death.

Todd Hollander
Author of "We're Killing Our Kids"
available at www.worthypress.com


(Roman Bystrianyk) wrote in message . com...
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=214

James Jefferson, "Arkansas School Children at Obesity Risk", Miami
Herald, September 8, 2004,
Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...th/9609501.htm

A broader analysis of the body mass index numbers for Arkansas school
children shows a growing number of students statewide are overweight
or at risk of obesity, official said Tuesday.

"We are in the middle of an epidemic. That epidemic threatens the
health of our children and risks tearing the fabric of our
communities,' said Dr. Joe Thompson, director of the Arkansas Center
for Health Improvement.

The center, which released results of the state's first BMI reports to
parents in June, released a new study of obesity in children showing
results at the school and school district level showing a statewide
problem that transcends age, gender, economic and ethnic lines.

Among the findings:

_Thirty-eight percent of Arkansas public school students are
overweight or at risk of being overweight.

_Forty-two percent of sixth-grade children are in one of the two
high-risk categories.

_Thirty-nine percent of males and 37 percent of females are considered
overweight or at risk of being too heavy.

_Forty-nine percent of Hispanic males and 44 percent of black females
were identified in one of the to high-risk categories.

_In more than 40 percent of school districts assessed, more than 40
percent of students were overweight or at risk of being overweight.

"Many of our children and adolescents are developing health conditions
now relating to childhood obesity which will claim their lives as
adults and rob our communities and families of a health and productive
citizen," Thompson said.

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who joined ACHI officials in releasing the report
at Indian Hills Elementary, said an additional six community health
education specialists would be assigned to posts across the state to
assist advisory committees being formed at schools to develop and
implement local policies that encourage healthy activities.

The advisory committees were mandated by Act 1220 of 2003, which also
required public schools to conduct an annual BMI screening of all
students.

Thompson said 1,058 of 1,135 public schools in the state - 94 percent
- reported results by July 9, and officials assessed valid individual
data forms for 345,892 students.

Among actions taken to date, officials have banned use of vending
machines at elementary schools during school hours.

Huckabee, who has lost 105 pounds in a year after a diabetes
diagnosis, restated his opposition to such ban at high schools without
scientific evidence of its effect.

"We may need to do it, but we need to do it based on some good data to
determine what will actually improve the health of children. It could
putting healthier snacks in those machines. It could be getting rid of
them altogether," the governor said Tuesday.

He said his position was not based on the income high schools receive
from vending machines, although he acknowledged that could be a factor
for superintendents.

Three cheers to the state of Arkansas for its efforts to curtail the
epidemic of overweight children. As the Arkansas data points out, a
steadily increasing number of children in the U.S. are sinking into
the chasm of overweight and obesity. Although our nation has declared
war on terrorism, we have failed to mount an organized defense against
the epidemic which is exacting an even heavier toll on our nation's
youth.

The only way to cure the epidemic of overweight and sedentary children
is for all concerned adults--including parents, grandparents,
educators, and caregivers--to take responsibility for helping children
develop a lifestyle of physical fitness and good nutrition. While this
will require some changes at school, it will also demand significant
action at home and in the community. Doing any less simply subjects
our children to the high probability of disease, disability, or
premature death.

Todd Hollander
Author of "We're Killing Our Kids"
available at www.worthypress.com


(Roman Bystrianyk) wrote in message . com...
http://www.healthsentinel.com/news.p...st_item&id=214

James Jefferson, "Arkansas School Children at Obesity Risk", Miami
Herald, September 8, 2004,
Link: http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald...th/9609501.htm

A broader analysis of the body mass index numbers for Arkansas school
children shows a growing number of students statewide are overweight
or at risk of obesity, official said Tuesday.

"We are in the middle of an epidemic. That epidemic threatens the
health of our children and risks tearing the fabric of our
communities,' said Dr. Joe Thompson, director of the Arkansas Center
for Health Improvement.

The center, which released results of the state's first BMI reports to
parents in June, released a new study of obesity in children showing
results at the school and school district level showing a statewide
problem that transcends age, gender, economic and ethnic lines.

Among the findings:

_Thirty-eight percent of Arkansas public school students are
overweight or at risk of being overweight.

_Forty-two percent of sixth-grade children are in one of the two
high-risk categories.

_Thirty-nine percent of males and 37 percent of females are considered
overweight or at risk of being too heavy.

_Forty-nine percent of Hispanic males and 44 percent of black females
were identified in one of the to high-risk categories.

_In more than 40 percent of school districts assessed, more than 40
percent of students were overweight or at risk of being overweight.

"Many of our children and adolescents are developing health conditions
now relating to childhood obesity which will claim their lives as
adults and rob our communities and families of a health and productive
citizen," Thompson said.

Gov. Mike Huckabee, who joined ACHI officials in releasing the report
at Indian Hills Elementary, said an additional six community health
education specialists would be assigned to posts across the state to
assist advisory committees being formed at schools to develop and
implement local policies that encourage healthy activities.

The advisory committees were mandated by Act 1220 of 2003, which also
required public schools to conduct an annual BMI screening of all
students.

Thompson said 1,058 of 1,135 public schools in the state - 94 percent
- reported results by July 9, and officials assessed valid individual
data forms for 345,892 students.

Among actions taken to date, officials have banned use of vending
machines at elementary schools during school hours.

Huckabee, who has lost 105 pounds in a year after a diabetes
diagnosis, restated his opposition to such ban at high schools without
scientific evidence of its effect.

"We may need to do it, but we need to do it based on some good data to
determine what will actually improve the health of children. It could
putting healthier snacks in those machines. It could be getting rid of
them altogether," the governor said Tuesday.

He said his position was not based on the income high schools receive
from vending machines, although he acknowledged that could be a factor
for superintendents.