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<p align="center"><b><font face="Verdana" size="5" color="#0000FF">Eat
Well/Be Fit</font></b></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="4" color="#000000">The Needham Public Schools
Adopts A Wellness Policy</font></b></p>
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Written by, Kathy M. Pinkham, Dir. of Health & Physical Education for the
Needham Public Schools.</font></p>
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<font face="Verdana" size="1">On June 30, 2004, the President signed
Public Law 108-265, the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act of
2004. This law required all school or education agencies participating
in a program authorized by the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch
Act (42 U.S.C. 1751 et seq) or the Child Nutrition Act of 1966 (42 U.S.C.
1771 et seq) to establish a local school wellness policy by School Year
2006.The Needham Public Schools has met this requirement, and the policy
was signed at the Needham School Committee on August 22nd. <br>
<br>
The push on the part of the federal government to mandate school
wellness policies for public schools is a direct result of the childhood
obesity crisis that is sweeping this country. It is no secret that
childhood obesity is on the rise. The most recent data indicate that, in
the United States, about 16% of children ages 6�19 years are overweight
(Center for Disease Control). This number has tripled for children in
this age group since1980.<br>
<br>
More surprisingly, along with the rise in obesity, has come a parallel
rise in the number of cases of Type 2 diabetes found in children. This
marks a significant change in the pathology of this disease. Prior to
the late 90�s, Type 2 diabetes was only found in adults. As a result,
it was referred to as �Adult Onset Diabetes�. Today, it is being
diagnosed in children in alarming numbers. Type 2 Diabetes is caused by
poor diet and lack of physical exercise � the same conditions that cause
obesity. <br>
<br>
In addition to obesity and Type 2 Diabetes, more and more children and
young adults are dealing with other diseases that were typically
observed in older adults (e.g., high blood pressure, high cholesterol,
heart disease, stroke, arthritis, certain types of cancer, and sleep
disturbances). It has become evident that poor eating habits and lack
of physical activity among our youth is associated with this trend. <br>
<br>
Unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is
responsible for over 300,000 deaths in children and adults each year.
Many of these deaths are thought to be preventable as they are a direct
result of lifestyle choices. This generation of children is
particularly at risk because of their exposure to meals on the run,
highly processed foods, and a dramatic shift towards more sedentary
social activities It is feared that this generation may be the first
generation to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents. The
results of these negative life style behaviors now contribute to the
second leading cause of preventable death in the United States - second
only to tobacco use.<br>
<br>
It should be noted that we should be careful not to assume that children
and adolescents who don�t present a weight problem are not at risk for
these diseases. Many young people, who appear to be of normal weight
are still at risk from the results of a poor diet and lack of exercise.
<br>
<br>
School wellness policies are an attempt, on the part of the federal
government, to try to reverse these trends. The Needham Schools
developed its wellness policy to address the following categories:<br>
<br>
- Nutrition Education <br>
- Physical Education and Physical Activity<br>
- Guidelines for all foods and beverages on school campuses<br>
- Other school-based activities that promote student wellness<br>
<br>
Ruth Griffin, Director of Food Services, Kathy Pinkham, Director of
Health and Physical Education, and Jane Ward, Director of School Health
Services, are the Wellness Advisory Coordinators. They spent the first
part of this school year gathering data about existing wellness
programs. Next step is an action plan to evaluate our current wellness
initivies. The wellness coordinators, in consultation with the School
Health Advisory Council (SHAC) will be responsible for the
implementation and evaluation of this policy. SHAC is a group of school
and community members who serve to guide the process. <br>
<br>
If you would like more information about the Needham Public Schools
wellness policy, or would like to participate on the School Health
Advisory Council contact any of the wellness coordinators. </font></p>
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<font size="1" face="Verdana">Kathy M. Pinkham is the Director of Health
& Physical Education for the Needham Public Schools. She is also an
active member of Eat Well/Be Fit Needham, a committee dedicated to
improving the health and well-being of Needham residents. This
town-wide committee is composed of concerned professionals consisting of
the Needham Health Department, Needham Public Schools, Beth Israel
Deaconess Hospital Needham, Nutritionists, Physicians, Needham Park and
Recreation Department, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and
local residents and businesses. For more information, contact the
Needham Health Department.</font></i></p>
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