This month's pelinks4u editorial shares information about a newly released national study of nutrition and physical activity in America's elementary schools. We learn that a significant proportion of today's elementary-aged children are regularly exposed to a variety of foods of questionable nutritional value.

The study also found that just over 50% of all US public elementary schools scheduled physical education only one or two days a week. One percent of elementary schools did not have physical education scheduled, and 17-22% provided daily physical education. A power point presentation accompanies this editorial for readers interested in visual representation of this data.

- Steve Jefferies, pelinks4u publisher

Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005

As the Commissioner of the National Center for Education Statistics, I am pleased to release the report Calories In, Calories Out: Food and Exercise in Public Elementary Schools, 2005. This is the first U.S. Department of Education study to focus on food and exercise in public elementary schools.

Background
Obesity among school-age children has become a national concern, with the number of overweight children aged 6 to 11 more than tripling over the past three decades. One way to address this health issue is to emphasize an "energy balance" approach - calories consumed versus calories expended - to support healthy eating and an active lifestyle. Because of the amount of time students spend at school each day, schools can play an important role in promoting good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy weight among children.

This study was designed to obtain current national information on the three key topics. These were:

	The availability of foods offered for sale outside of full school meals, including locations and times when foods were available, types of food offered for sale, and contracts with companies to sell foods at the school;
	Opportunities for students to engage in physical activity in school, including scheduled recess and physical education, and activities to encourage exercise; and
	The extent to which schools weigh students and calculate their body mass index, and whether this information is sent to parents.

The survey was mailed to a nationally representative sample of 1,198 regular public elementary schools in early spring 2005. It was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics using the Fast Response Survey System (FRSS). The FRSS is designed to conduct short, quick-turnaround surveys on emerging issues in education. The response rate for the study was 91 percent.

Calories In: The Availability of Foods Outside of Full School Meals
"Competitive foods" is the term of art that refers to any foods offered for sale outside of full school meals. This includes healthy foods, such as fruit and milk, and less nutritious foods, such as soda and candy. Competitive foods may be sold at mealtimes or other times during the school day, or during school-sponsored before- and after-school activities. The foods may also be sold in a number of locations, including in and around the cafeteria (particularly as a la carte foods) and at vending machines, school stores, or snack bars that may or may not be located in the cafeteria.

This editorial continues here.

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