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By Janet Evans
Tuesday, May 20 2008, 06:50 AM
With more teens getting less physical education in school, eating fewer balanced meals at home, and spending more time on the computer, anything they can do to keep off a few pounds can help.
A good breakfast can do just that….
Lean Teens Eat Breakfast
Among teenagers, eating breakfast helped adolescents weigh less, exercise more and overall have a much healthier diet than their non-breakfast eating peers, according to researchers from the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
The researchers followed over 2,000 teenagers in the Minneapolis/St. Paul area, and tracked their weight, eating patterns and other lifestyle habits for five years. The article, which was published in the journal of Pediatrics in March of 2008, stated that the teenagers were just under 15 year of age at the start of the study.
Studies have indicated that breakfast eating declines during adolescence. Some data reveals that only 14% of 12-19 year olds consistently eat breakfast. The purpose of this study was to explore the association between eating breakfast and weight change within a five year period in an adolescent population.
The findings revealed that children who ate breakfast regularly were more healthy overall. In addition, breakfast eaters in this study had a lower body mass index (BMI), according to the authors. BMI measures weight relative to height. The higher the BMI, the more overweight a person is. Teenagers in the study who consistently skipped breakfast weighed on average about 5 pounds more compared to teenagers who included breakfast in their everyday routine.
In this study, although breakfast eaters consumed a greater amount of energy, carbohydrates, and fiber, they consumed lower percentages of total calories from saturated fat. This dietary intake has been shown to improve energy balance and weight control since fiber rich foods (foods most consumed at breakfast) contributeto better glucose and insulin control which leads to an increased satiety and ultimately lower body weight.
This study supports the importance of consistent breakfast consumption in improving overall dietary intake, contributing to healthy weights and promoting a healthy lifestyle in youth. As the rates of breakfast consumption declines throughout the teenage years and early adulthood, the impact of consistent breakfast consumption may be an important indicator of an overall healthful lifestyle pattern in adolescents. Furthermore, thefact that regular consumption of breakfast is associated with a healthier weight and less weight change over time, may serve as an important message to teenagers who are engaging in unhealthy dietary behaviors, such as skipping breakfast, in their effort to lose weight. Educational efforts should focus on the importance of breakfast whether it is consumed at home or at school. In addition, education that promotes healthful breakfast (whole grain cereals, fruits, low fat milk) is important since diets that include nutrient and fiber rich food have been shown to have a positive effect on weight and disease reduction.
This is an excerpt from The Breakfast Scoop, Vol. 1, No. 3, an electronic newsletter covering issues related to breakfast and school breakfast programs. It is made possible by a partnership of the Wisconsin Department of Public Instructionand the University of Wisconsin-Extension Wisconsin Breakfast Newsletter Website http://www.uwex.edu/ces/flp/food/schoolbreakfast/newsletter.cfm
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By Janet Evans
Thursday, Apr 17 2008, 11:40 AM
Or too much time out in the hot sun?
Because right now it’s being blamed on the fact that Florida schools have an abstinence-only sex education program.
What am I referring to?
Well, some Florida teens believe that drinking a cap of bleach will prevent HIV.
But that’s not all.
It’s just got to be something in the water….
Read about it on ABCnews.com í here
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By Janet Evans
Wednesday, Mar 12 2008, 09:51 PM
26% (more than 3 million nationwide) ...that from a federal study.
Only about half of the girls studied admitted to having sex, defining intercourse as sex, but not including oral sex in the definition.
Of those who admit to having sex....40% of them had an STD.
If you haven't considered the HPV vaccine yet for your teen daughter ...it may be time to give it some thought.
As far as Franklin Public Schools goes, they are teaching health in grades 7 & 8, and abbreviated classes in grades 9 and 12.
Only a small portion of health class includes sex education.
Next year, they will be eliminating health in grade 9.
What's left will be taught through a "gym" class.
The current curriculum is from 1998, with a small group of Objectives added from 2007.
Parents.....
I sure wouldn't be depending on Franklin Public Schools to be educating your children regarding sex education.
And the introduction they are receiving in 7th and 8th grade...that is supposed to last until grade 12?
Well, I don't think that cuts it....
They are following state mandates, though.
You might want to talk to your kids between grades 8 and 12.
26%
Here's the article about the study from The Mercury News
26% of Teenage Girls Have an STD - Wake-up Call for Health Care System ÷ here
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By Janet Evans
Monday, Jan 14 2008, 06:15 AM
Back in November I blogged about the study that was done regarding children who aren't getting enough sleep are more prone to gaining weight. While I can't disregard a study...I did not totally agree with it. I think kids need to get some exercise rather than sitting at the computer and they need to eat some old-fashioned balanced meals instead of fast food or processed foods.
Meanwhile, there are many theories flying around about why children are overweight. One survey found that many parents don't believe their children are overweight , or if they are overweight, they believe their child will outgrow the weight problem. Parent's are in denial. Then there's this, in a must read article, Fat kids, silent parents by Amy Benfer,
"A variety of factors have contributed to the country's ballooning weight -- poverty, inactivity, poor nutritional education, lard-rich fast food. A disproportionate number of overweight children continue to come from lower-income families. But as issues of obesity invade middle-class homes, parents who are versed in the four basic food groups and have the money to provide healthy meals are tongue-tied by a new conundrum: Having done their perfect-parent best to protect their children, in particular their daughters, from the dangers of eating disorders and self-loathing, they have ended up with a generation of fat children (not to mention adults) who now need to lose weight. But as they prepare themselves to finally confront their children about their weight, they find themselves bound and gagged -- deprived by the experts of appropriate language for the task".
Benfer goes on about overweight children, again highlighting girls,
"No one wants children to grow up feeling bad about themselves. But silence about weight isn't helping children or parents. The actual formula for anyone who is trying to maintain a healthy weight is ridiculously low-tech: Eat less, exercise more. But in order to be in a position to offer this simple solution, we need to stop encouraging girls to pursue an unrealistic body weight in the name of beauty, so that we can encourage them to maintain a realistic weight in the name of health."
Another concept of why children are overweight is not a new one. The absence of a parent at home, specifically "mom," is thought to be the reason behind the overweight child. Mom is less able to supervise outdoor play or has less time to cook and therefore buys more fast food. Unfortunately for working mothers who are already struck by guilt, the effects are pretty substantial.
From Maternal Employment and Childhood Obesity
Patricia Anderson, Kristin Butcher, and Phillip Levine
Economic Research Service/USDA
"Childhood overweight may be one of the most significant health issues facing American children today. In the 1963 to 1970 period, 4 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 11 were defined as overweight; that level had more than tripled by 1999, reaching 13 percent. The rise in women working outside the home coincides with the rise in childhood weight problems.From 1970 to 1999, the fraction of married women with children under 6 who participate in the labor force doubled, rising from 30 to 62 percent, while those with children ages 6 to 17 rose dramatically from 49 to77 percent. However, time series evidence is not sufficient to imply that these trends are related. This study explores whether the rise observed in both maternal employment and childhood overweight represents a causal relationship between these two phenomena."
We can go on, and on seeking, blaming, trying to find the right answer as to "why" more children are obese.
In my opinion the common factor here seems to be the word "parent."
While it is the child putting that food in his or her mouth, it is the parent's responsibility to make sure the child is getting the proper nutrition. Cook the balanced meal for dinner - Possibly eat it while sitting with the whole family talking about how the day went.
It is the parent who buys the food that is in the home and needs to educate the child, from the time the child eats solid food, what constitutes a healthy snack. You don't need to stock up on junk foods.
It is the parent who needs to monitor what foods are being served at school in the school lunch programs or what your child brings to school in his or her bag lunch.
It is the parent who needs to encourage and participate with the child in activities and exercise at home, after school and in the evening, to discourage sitting around watching television and spending time on games and the computer.
Oh, that's right....
You're rushed.
You don't have time.....
Ask yourself what's really more important?
Getting your child or yourself to the next activity?
Or getting your child to adulthood not obese. Not unhealthy....
Are working moms to blame for fat kids? Maybe....
It seems to me it's a family problem.
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Nov 16 2007, 11:55 AM
Rubber Band Shooter
Year's Most Dangerous Toys According to World Against Toys Causing Harm (W.A.T.C.H.)
Well, the LIST is out ...
The list of the year's 10 most dangerous toys according to W.A.T.C.H.
And after seeing the list and looking over some of the toys, including the one pictured above,
yeah, that one, I have to ask,
"What were the manufacturers of these toys THINKING?"
We've got the Rubber Band Shooter (above.) W.A.T.C.H. says that rubber bands should never be sold as toys. But Simple Toys LLC, the manufacturer, states on the box that the Rubber Band Shooter is for "Family Fun" and "Simple Fun." They also state that this toy is "for target practice only" and "Do not aim at people."
Well, I'm JUST a little bit "unglued" about this. Exactly what child, given a gun that shoots rubber bands, is NOT going to aim it at another child?
Oh, wait ... let me go find my "target."
"Mommy, where is my target?"
"Can you find my target?"
"No?"
"Guess I'll just aim this rubber band shooter at my STUPID LITTLE BROTHER THEN."
Duh!
Sticky Stones
Oh, boy. IT GETS WORSE ...
Sticky Stones, made by GeoCentral, is a “powerful magnetized iron ore ” that is sold as a toy for children. For what purpose, I'm not sure. But, if more than one magnet is swallowed, they can attach inside the body, potentially causing intestinal perforation, infection or blockage which can be fatal. There is an in-store warning to consumers: “Swallowed magnets can stick together across intestines causing serious infections and death....” The pre-packaged stones available to Internet shoppers provide no such warning.
I just saw something like this on one of the medical shows this week, or last week (who knows, I have TIVO, I think maybe it was House or Grey's Anatomy) and the magnets the child swallowed migrated through the intestine and were going to perforate the intestine wall. They were moving up and down the intestine attaching to each other. Maybe the writers for the show got the idea by toy shopping and seeing the warning on the box of STICKY STONES!!!
Well, these are my Top 2. There are 8 more for you to take a look at. It's really unbelievable what these manufacturers get away with. They should be required to take each toy home and try it out not on their own children, but on themselves for a month before they send it out to consumers.
10 Most DangerousToys List 2007
What do you think about crappy, dangerous toys?
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By Janet Evans
Friday, Nov 9 2007, 12:57 AM
The latest BUMP regarding sleep and children is that third-graders need more sleep time. Remember when we were told high school-aged children needed more sleep time a few years ago and the schools went crazy changing the start times? We all felt a pang of guilt for not letting our teens sleep in on weekends after that was revealed, right?
Now researchers say that “of the children who slept 10 to 12 hours a day, about 12 percent were obese by sixth grade. Many more – 22 percent – were obese in sixth grade of those who slept less than nine hours a day. Well, excuse me, but what am I not getting here (Yes, I’m getting a bit unglued)? How about a little less sleep and a little more exercise for the “children?” Maybe some activity with mom and dad? A little less gaming at night or computer time before going to bed for those 9-12 hours after that nutritious pizza dinner (yeah and how about a balanced meal, too)?
Also, what’s with the BMI (Body Mass Index). I don’t like it. I sit in the doctor’s office and study that chart. I don’t see a column that says “use for big boned women.” You can’t tell me that the BMI is going to be the same for a 5”4” woman who has the bones of a stick figure model as it is for a thick boned, strong as a bull Latvian woman. Sor-ry. And now they measure the BMI for children too.
So, here is an article Lack of Sleep May Lead to Fatter Kids
And the BMI chart for children.
Are you as “unglued” about this issue as I am? About BMI charts?
What do you think?
*************************************************************************************************************
On another note, I received an email from Elizabeth Burmaster, State Superintendent of Schools, along with Gov. Jim Doyle, which included the following announcement that Wisconsin has won a competitive national grant to fight childhood obesity:
**** News Release ****
Wisconsin wins grant to combat childhood obesity
Wisconsin has won a competitive national grant to fight childhood obesity. Wisconsin was one of 15 states to receive Healthy Kids, Healthy America awards from the National Governors Association, which chose to fully fund the state's request for $100,000.
The funding will go toward the Healthier Wisconsin Schools initiative and will support the Governor's School Health Award initiative.
"We are pleased that the NGA has recognized the work being done here in Wisconsin, and we will use this grant to continue our efforts to reduce the rates of overweight and obesity among our youngest citizens," said Governor Jim Doyle.
"A healthy school environment, where students are encouraged to make healthier choices and to be more physically active, helps them to achieve their full academic potential as well as supporting them in developing lifelong healthy behaviors," said State Superintendent Elizabeth Burmaster.
The grant will fund work to help Wisconsin increase the number of Wisconsin school-age children who eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, increase the number of Wisconsin school-age children who meet daily physical activity recommendations, and decrease the number of Wisconsin school-age children who are overweight or at risk for becoming overweight.
$100,000. "WOW, I thought. NOW that will go far. ”
So, I made a few calls. First, I called the Food Service Manager, Monica Houtler, at Franklin Public Schools and inquired as to whether our district had ever benefited from this program. Monica said she was not aware of the program. We had a great chat and she informed me of the all she does to give our students healthy food choices, within her means. She also reminded me of the Wellness Program, which is implemented through our District’s Strategic Plan. I was impressed with Monica Houtler, and FPS should be too.
Next I spoke with Brian Weaver, Student Services/Prevention and Wellness Team at the Dept. of Public Instruction, in Madison. I asked him if any suburban schools receive any of the $100,000, or does it all go to MPS. He said no schools had been selected for this money yet, and that the money would be assigned to schools that had applied. He also said money would go to schools that had NOT applied, but that hadn’t been determined. We both agreed $100,000 would not go a long way. He agreed with me that there are not many programs, nor money, state or federal, to fight obesity in schools.
Personally, I think this is just a nice NEWS RELEASE for Burmaster and Doyle and by the time I was done being transferred around at DPI, I was pretty unglued.
I don't even know about asking you what you think on this one, but, O.K., I will.
Here I go.
So, what do you think?
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