National statistics concerning childhood obesity are grim. Obese and overweight children are experiencing physical and emotional ramifications that are affecting current and future wellness of children.

Lack of physical activity and poor nutrition are key culprits as to why childhood obesity is on the rise. Increased physical activity alone does not guarantee physical wellness. Making good food choices alone does not guarantee physical wellness. It is the combination of both that truly impacts children’s wellness.

We can’t change these behaviors unless we teach children how to make better choices. Learning theorists recommend having one resource that teaches both physical and nutrition education so children can relate concepts in order to better retain presented information. And, because early education is a key to developing healthy habits and lifestyle choices before unhealthy habits are formed, the elementary physical educator plays a critical role.

Further support for physical and nutrition education is in research linking children participating regularly in physical activity and healthy eating with an increase in academic achievement.

Schools, families, and the community are being viewed as avenues for this undertaking. This is evident in the recent passing of legislation requiring school districts who participate in the National School Lunch Program to develop a School Wellness Policy. The legislation, entitled the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act (News & Analysis), specifically addresses physical activity and nutrition education in Section 204.

The public has been saturated with statistics, conversation, and policies for resolving childhood obesity. But, without action, they are only words. More needs to be done to spend less time talking and more time acting.

The physical educator is in an ideal position to take a step beyond words and become a leader in the battle against childhood obesity by implementing nutrition education into their physical education curriculum.

This presentation combines two researched-based resources, the National Association for Sports and Physical Education (NASPE) and the United States Department of Agriculture’s MyPyramid (USDA), into one resource—teaching both physical and nutrition education. Pre-K through 6th grade innovative learning strategies are shared. The well-designed lessons that are easy to implement foster an environment exciting children to be physically active while engaged in physical and nutrition education in schools, families, and the community. Children are moving while learning! Educators are meeting School Wellness Policy goals!

The concern for time is acknowledged by using portions of physical and nutrition education curriculums that are short and to the point, rather than adding to an already crammed schedule. Instant lessons can be completed in as little as 5 to 10 minutes at the beginning or end of the day, during an activity break, before or after school programs, etc.; yet, these lessons impact a child’s wellness for a lifetime.

One of the unique strategies, the bSAFE bFIT! Program for kids, is a perfect “fit” because of its specific focus on physical and nutrition education. Recommendations for physical activity and food group needs are taught using fun food characters that illustrate physical activity (addressing both concepts with one character)! For example, the Watermelon Jack, or the symbol of a jumping jack, represents the Fruit Group and the Aerobic component of fitness. Enjoyable tactics are based on the five components of health-related physical fitness (Body Composition, Strength, Aerobic Fitness, Flexibility, and Endurance).

The American Cancer Society (ACS), CDC’s Division of Adolescent School Health (DASH), and Caine Learning Institute are other reputable resources used to provide cross-curricular schemes including food tasting, comic strips, diary of vegetables and fruits, school-wide moving to music, reading food labels, comparing portion size versus serving size, spelling relays, exercising at a nursing home, community walk, Character Counts, DARE, Reading and Writing Programs, and many more.

An overview of the National Standards for Physical Education, National Health Education Standards, Twelve Brain/Mind Learning Principles, Eight Component Model of the Coordinated School Health Program, CDC’s guidelines for school programs to promote physical activity and healthy eating, assessment, curriculum and multicultural infusion, and inclusion are also presented.

Enhancing the physical education profession by implementing nutrition education is a means to an end—improving children’s fitness levels, knowledge, attitudes, and habits and thus decreasing the incidence of childhood obesity while optimizing academic achievement.

It is an ideal session for:

• Administrators
• Physical Educators/Educators/Instructors
• School Wellness coordinators and panel members

1. Recognize two needs:
   • Execution of strategies that confront childhood obesity head on (less talk, more action).
   • One resource teaching both physical and nutrition education.
2. Become a leader in efforts to decrease childhood obesity, improve children’s wellness, and optimize academic performance.
3. Re-examine the Local School Wellness Policy.
4. Receive information on a new and innovative education fitness program—the bSAFE bFIT! Program for kids.
5. Walk away with ready-to-use learning strategies that excite children to be physically active while engaged in physical and nutrition education; linking schools, families, and the community.

downloads:

• PowerPoint Narrative
• PowerPoint Presentation - Childhood Obesity: Physical and Emotional Ramifications

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