Partnership working to fight child obesity

Problems like diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol are quickly becoming realities for children. Overweight kids suffer emotionally as well, facing increased risks of suicide, depression, bullying and low self-esteem.

In 2004, Congress got tough about these health problems of our nation's children by passing the Child Nutrition and WIC Reauthorization Act. The Act requires all public schools and private schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to adopt local school wellness policies by the first day of the school year in 2006. The policies must address ways to increase healthy eating and physical activity in the schools.

The Department of Family and Community Health Sciences (FCHS) at the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) and the New Jersey Department of Agriculture (NJDA) are helping schools fulfill the requirements of the act. FCHS faculty throughout New Jersey have been contacting county school superintendents and school nurses to help them develop their own wellness policy. NJDA held 18 workshops throughout the state in March to provide resources and assist schools with the development of their policies and, in conjunction with NJ Action for Healthy Kids, will be holding additional workshops in the fall of 2006.

NJAES and NJDA are also partnering to present three days of meetings on Cook Campus in New Brunswick to educate school food service professionals, teachers, school nurses, dietitians, coaches, health care providers, food service providers, parents and health educators.

The first two days will focus on educating food service professionals. The program will cover topics relating to health, fitness and tips for getting students to eat healthy school meals. In addition, there will be sessions on the hazard analysis and critical control point program, food biosecurity, marketing, menu and recipe makeovers, an overview of school food service management, preventing food allergy reactions and hands-on culinary activities.

On Aug. 3, the NJAES/NJDA partnership will present a Children's Health Summit - Fighting Back Against Childhood Obesity. The information presented during this program will be pertinent to a wider audience of child care providers, including not only food service professionals, but also teachers, school nurses, dietitians, coaches, health care providers, parents and health educators. Speakers from the Department of Family and Community Health Sciences and New Jersey Department of Health & Senior Services will discuss the issues related to child obesity, present the latest research and offer solutions. Local professionals will be on hand to discuss community resources.

For more information or to register, go to www.cookce.rutgers.edu (click on "2006 Food Service Institute" under special programs) or call (732) 932-9271.

Kathleen Morgan

chair,

Department of Family & Community Health Sciences

Rutgers Cooperative Extension

New Jersey Agricultural

Experiment Station