School Wellness Policies: Why What How

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School Wellness Policies Why? What?
How?

• John Lyons, Health Coordinator
• Westford Public Schools
• jlyons_at_westfordk12.us

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Why?
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Schools have a key role to play in promoting
healthy development.
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Percentage of U.S. Children and Adolescents Who
Were Overweight
Ages 12-19
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Ages 6-11
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gt95th percentile for BMI by age and sex based
on 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts Data are
from 1963-65 for children 6-11 years of age and
from 1966-70 for adolescents 12-17 years of
age Source National Center for Health
Statistics
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Percentage of U.S. Children and Adolescents Who
Were Overweight
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16
Ages 12-19
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Ages 6-11
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gt95th percentile for BMI by age and sex based
on 2000 CDC BMI-for-age growth charts Data are
from 1963-65 for children 6-11 years of age and
from 1966-70 for adolescents 12-17 years of
age Source National Center for Health
Statistics
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Obesity rates are soaring

• Adult obesity has doubled since 1980
• From 1990 to 2003, rates have jumped in every
  state in nation

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Obesity Rates Among MA Adults, 1990-2002
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Percent of MA Adolescents Who Are Overweight or
At Risk for Overweight, 2003
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Trends in Behavior Related to Overweight Among
Massachusetts Adolescents
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Grade Level Differences in Behavior Related to
Overweight Among MA Youth, 2003
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Days in Past Week That MA Adolescents Ate
Breakfast, 2003
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Total Percentage of Students in At Risk for
Overweight and Overweight Categories by Grade
and Gender
Westford School District
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Health, Economic and Academic Impacts

• Health effects
• Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance,
  hypertension,
• gall bladder disease, sleep disturbances,
  breathing problems, breast cancer, colon cancer,
  arthritis, problems with pregnancy and childbirth

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Health, Economic and Academic Impacts

• Health effects
• Type 2 diabetes, insulin resistance,
  hypertension,
• gall bladder disease, sleep disturbances,
  breathing problems, breast cancer, colon cancer,
  arthritis, problems with pregnancy and childbirth
• Estimated increase in hospital costs due to
  obesity in youth
• From 35 million in 1979 to 127 million in 1999

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Health, Academicand Economic Impacts of Obesity,
Poor Nutrition, Lack of Fitness

• Academic effects
• Readiness to learn? Behavior? Ability to
  concentrate?
• Energy level? Absenteeism? Connectedness?
• MA youth with a 30 BMI were more likely than
  those with a 25- BMI to have been bullied at
  school (29 vs. 22) and to have skipped school
  because they felt unsafe (7 vs. 4), but less
  likely to have decent grades (79 vs. 89)
• MA high school students who ate breakfast every
  day were significantly more likely than those who
  never ate breakfast to get decent grades (ABC),
  92 vs. 77
• MA youth who had regular aerobic exercise were
  more likely than those who didnt to get decent
  grades, 85 vs. 89

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WHAT?
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Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act,
2004 Section 204 of P.L. 108-265

• Prior to the beginning of the 2006-2007 school
  year, Local Education Agencies shall use input
  from parents, students, representatives of the
  school food authority, school committee, school
  administrators and the public to establish school
  wellness policies that include

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Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act,
2004 Section 204 of P.L. 108-265

• Prior to the beginning of the 2006-2007 school
  year, Local Education Agencies shall use input
  from parents, students, representatives of the
  school food authority, school administrators and
  the public to establish school wellness policies
  that include
• goals for nutrition education, physical activity,
  and other wellness promotion activities

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Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act,
2004 Section 204 of P.L. 108-265

• Prior to the beginning of the 2006-2007 school
  year, Local Education Agencies shall use input
  from parents, students, administrators, food
  service authority, school board representatives,
  and others to establish school wellness policies
  that include
• goals for nutrition education, physical activity,
  and other wellness promotion activities
• nutrition guidelines for all foods available on
  each school campus

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Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act,
2004 Section 204 of P.L. 108-265

• Prior to the beginning of the 2006-2007 school
  year, Local Education Agencies shall use input
  from parents, students, administrators, school
  board representatives, and others to establish
  school wellness policies that include
• goals for nutrition education, physical activity,
  and other wellness promotion activities
• nutrition guidelines for all foods available on
  each school campus
• guidelines for school meals that are not less
  restrictive than USDA guidelines

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Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act,
2004 Section 204 of P.L. 108-265

• Prior to the beginning of the 2006-2007 school
  year, Local Education Agencies shall use input
  from parents, students, administrators, school
  board representatives, and others to establish
  school wellness policies that include
• goals for nutrition education, physical activity,
  and other wellness promotion activities
• nutrition guidelines for all foods available on
  each school campus
• guidelines for school meals that are not less
  restrictive than USDA guidelines
• plans for measuring implementation/progress --
  designee responsible for program operation

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Rationale and Opportunities

• Reaches beyond USDA-funded meal programs to
  influence childhood health
• Recognizes the critical role of schools in
  curbing the epidemic of childhood overweight
• Recognizes that nutrition and physical activity
  can have an important influence on childrens
  ability to learn
• Provides an opportunity for school districts to
  create an environment conducive to healthy
  lifestyle choices and academic success

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Senator Tom Harkin (IA) at January 05 Briefing

• The local wellness policies included in the
  Child Nutrition bill last summer represent a
  consensus and bipartisan approach that is also
  consistent with the desires of schools to set
  guidelines that are consistent with local needs
  and conditions.
• Theygive schools plenty of flexibility to
  formulate policies that are appropriate to these
  conditions.

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Local Wellness PolicyNutrition Standards for All
Foods Available on School Campus During the
School Day (Opportunities and Options)

• Guidelines or standards for foods and beverages
  sold la carte in the school cafeteria
• Guidelines or standards for foods and beverages
  sold in vending machines, snack bars, school
  stores, and concession stands.
• Guidelines or standards for foods and beverages
  sold as part of school-sponsored fundraising
  activities.
• Guidelines or standards for school and classroom
  parties.

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Local Wellness Policy School Environment(Opportu
nities and Options)

• Adequate space to accommodate all students and
  pleasant surroundings that reflect the value of
  social aspects of eating.
• Enough serving areas to ensure student access to
  school meals with a minimum of wait time.
• Adequate time to enjoy eating healthy meals.
• Food or physical activity is not used as a reward
  or punishment.

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Local Wellness Policy Nutrition
Education(Opportunities and Options)

• Pre-K -12 nutrition education that is interactive
  and teaches the skills needed to adopt healthy
  eating behaviors.
• Nutrition education coordinated between teachers
  and foodservice staff.
• Consistent nutrition messages throughout the
  school, classroom
• State and district health education curriculum
  standards and guidelines include nutrition
  education and physical education
• Highly qualified teachers and food service staff

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Local Wellness PolicyPhysical Activity
(Opportunities and Options)

• Physical activity opportunities through
• daily recess periods
• required and elective physical education (PE)
  classes
• walking programs
• integration of physical activity into the
  academic curriculum
• inter- and intramural sports programs and
  physical activity clubs

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School Wellness Policies could also include

• Guidelines for collecting and communicating
  information about student BMIs and fitness
• Guidelines for regular review of PE curriculum
  and instruction to ensure
• A variety of activities, many non-competitive
• At least 50 of class time spent in moderate to
  vigorous physical activity
• Personal fitness goals
• Development of skills and motivation for
  adult/lifetime physical activities
• Guidelines for regular review of Health
  Education curriculum and instruction to ensure
  that skills are being taught and assessed.

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Of course, healthy weight and fitness are not the
only health issues. . . .

• Percent of MA high school students who reported
  . .
• Smoking cigarettes in past month . . . . . . .
  21
• Binge drinking in past month . . . . . . . . . .
  . . 27
• Using marijuana in past month . . . . . . . . .
  . 28
• Seriously considered suicide, past year . . . .
  16
• Being in fight at school, past year . . . . . .
  . . .10
• Ever having had sexual intercourse . . . . . . .
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• Do NOT believe theres a teacher or other
• school staff member they could talk to
• about a problem . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
  .. . . . . .36

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School Wellness Policies could also include

• Other health and wellness topics of local
  importance
• School tobacco policies and their enforcement
• Policies regarding bullying and harassment
• Policies regarding substance use
• Policies protecting HIV students and staff
• Policies on developing and maintaining supports
  for school health
• Permanent school health advisory councils
• Health Coordinators
• In-service time for health-related staff

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HOW?
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Ideally . . .

• School Wellness Policies should be developed
  using Coordinated School Health as a model
• . . . That is, all of the right people need to be
  at the table for the discussion

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One step at a time

• Make sure that the right people are included in
  the policy development process
• Conduct a careful needs assessment
• What is the current school nutrition environment?
  
• What is the current status of other school health
  and wellness programs?
• What are the health and wellness issues most
  important to the district?
• Consider conducting the School Health Index

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One step at a time

• Make sure that the right people are included in
  the policy development process
• Conduct a careful needs assessment
• Brainstorm concrete activities programs

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• School Nutrition
• Improvement Strategies
• Establish nutrition standards
• Influence food and beverage contracts
• Make more healthful foods and beverages available
  
• Adopt marketing techniques to promote healthful
  choices
• Limit student access to competitive foods
• Use fundraising activities and rewards that
  support student health

http//www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/nutrition/Making-I
t-Happen/index.htm
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Marketing Healthful Choices

• Involve students in selecting healthful products
• Surveys, focus groups, food samples
• Promote products so students will try them
• Banners, flyers, announcements, logos
• Place products so they are easy to choose
• Healthful items at eye level
• Price products to give healthful items a
  competitive advantage
• Lower prices for healthful items

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One step at a time

• Include the right people
• Conduct a careful needs assessment
• Brainstorm concrete activities and programs
• Draft the policy
• Rationale
• Definitions
• Activities
• Administration
• Consequences
• Evaluation

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One step at a time

• Include the right people
• Conduct a careful needs assessment
• Brainstorm concrete activities and programs
• Draft the policy
• Adopt the policy
• Present final draft
• Provide support

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Resources to Help
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CDC Guidelines for School Health Programs
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School Health Index A Self-Assessment and
Planning Guide

• Identify your own schools strengths and
  weaknesses
• Prioritize issues
• Develop an action plan
• Involve teachers, students, parents, and
  community
• Download free at www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth

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Fit, Healthy, and Ready to Learn

• Guide to policymaking
• Sample policies - download at www.nasbe.org/Health
  ySchools
• Full explanations
• Research findings
• Notable quotes
• Excerpts of actual policies
• Resource lists

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www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Healthy/wellnesspolicy.html
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Valuable Resource from USDA

• Complete action kit
• action guide
• resource materials
• brochures
• transparencies
• video
• CD-ROM

Order free at www.fns.usda.gov/tn
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• MDOE Training/ TA available on
• School Health Index
• Quality Physical Education
• Changing the Scene
• School Wellness Policy Development
• Other Training
• - John Stalker Institute, Framingham State
• - MAHPERD, COHES

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• CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health
• http//www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/
• Action for Healthy Kids
• http//www.actionforhealthykids.org/
• School Nutrition Association
• http//www.asfsa.org/
• National Alliance on Nutrition and Activity
  (NANA)
• ... http//www.schoolwellnesspolicies.org
• Parent Teacher Association
• http//www.pta.org
• National Association State Boards of Education
  (NASBE)
• http//www.nasbe.org/HealthySchools/fithealthy.htm
  l
• National School Boards Association (NSBA)
• ... http//www.nsba.org/schoolhealth

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The Bottom Line! Healthy Kids Make Better
Students. Better Students Make Healthy
Communities