Speeding Up Progress In Fighting Obesity In Schools

Healthy Kids Challenge shares suggestions for increasing progress in the fight against obesity in schools…along with our simple, every day, evidence-based solutions. 

Concerns:

America’s obesity problems begin at an early age for kids. In Head Start, which provides early childhood education to nearly 1 million low-income children, about 1/3 of the children are overweight or obese. Experts and policy makers are looking at preschools and K-12 schools in an effort to reduce obesity.

Policy Recommendations:

From Health Affairs journal:

Policy makers should require Head Start to provide healthy meals and snacks for preschool children; increase training and technical assistance for staff; and develop staff wellness programs.

Solutions:

• Develop healthy snack lists and policies at preschools to encourage nutritious snack choices.
• Provide preschool teachers and staff simple tools, such as literacy to teach kids healthy eating and physical activity messages. HKC’s Monthly Action Idea provides a healthy preschool activity and complimenting book to read. More health-themed preschool books can be found at Michigan Team Nutrition Preschool Booklist.
• Organize a wellness team as an avenue for sharing staff wellness ideas

What other tools do early childhood education teachers need to promote wellness for their kids? Share your thoughts.