By Kylie Blanchard
Obesity rates in the United States have tripled in the last 30 years; one-third of the nation’s children are obese; and, for the first time in history, the current generation is slated to have a shorter life expectancy then their parents. It’s time to take action.
In Feburary, First Lady Michelle Obama launched the “Let’s Move” campaign to fight childhood obesity. With the goal of solving the childhood obesity epidemic within a generation, the campaign focuses on changes to the nutrition, food labeling and lifestyle choices of Americans through a variety of initiatives.
And while the “Let’s Move” campaign will work to reduce childhood obesity on a national level, there are resources and options available in Bismarck-Mandan that can aid in combating this growing problem in our own community.
Healthy Eating, Healthy Living
Wanda Agnew, PhD, LRD, public health dietician with Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health, says fighting childhood obesity will take a shift in everyone’s thinking. “It’s not a focus so much on pounds as making better food and lifestyle choices,” she says. “We need to make healthy choices today.”
She makes five recommendations to promote healthier weights among children and adults:
• Eat meals together at the table
• Eat large amounts of fruit, vegetables and whole grains
• Ensure beverages are high in calcium
• Think about food in terms of hunting and gathering
• Stop talking about diets for tomorrow
In today’s society, she notes, individuals don’t have to literally hunt and gather their food, but people are being harmed by food’s constant presence. “It’s quick, easy and accessible.” Agnew recommends people instead think in terms of what types of food they are “gathering” for meals and snacks.
Bismarck Burleigh Public Health offers programs to promote healthy lifestyle choices. Bodyworks is offered to promote healthy weight and lifestyle choices in adolescents. The program will be offered this summer and involves participation by both children and parents.
The Healthy Kids/ Healthy Weight tool kit is also available at no cost through public health. “This lists everything in the community that will help people to move more and eat smarter,” says Agnew, adding the kit highlights activities like farmers markets and area recreational facilities.
Also in the works is the GO! Bismarck-Mandan Coalition, a collaboration of various entities throughout the community. Agnew says the program is nearing the launch of its website and supplemental materials. “This will include an online listing of opportunities for families to stay active and make better food choices,” she says.
Get Active, Keep Moving
Paired with healthy eating and food choices in the fight against childhood obesity, is the importance of physical activity for the whole family.
“Just get moving, it doesn’t have to be sports,” says Kurt Weinberg, physical education teacher at Highland Acres and Pioneer elementary schools. “You don’t have to be an athlete to be athletic; it’s just about moving and getting your body going.”
He says it is important to get the entire family involved in activities and for parents to model healthy habits for their children. “As parents it’s your job to teach that you value physical activity. It’s important you model activities and do them with your kids.”
As a teacher, he works to instill healthy habits in children that they can take home to their families. “I can give a place where kids can be active,” he says, adding gym class may be the only physical activity some children take part in each week. “I try to teach activities so kids take this outside the school walls, and so they’ll like physical activity and will make it a part of their life.”
In addition, Weinberg offers an after school intramural sports programs for his students; and also promotes an annual “Screenless Week” to encourage families to turn off televisions, computers and video games and participate in physical activities together.
Weinberg says it is important parents allow their kids to “just play” and offer a variety of active opportunities. “Kids should get a wide variety of activities. It shouldn’t be forced, it should be for joy and fun.”
Lori Hinz, fitness instructor at Capital Raquet and Fitness Center, has taught the facility’s “Kiddy Size” class for eight years and agrees variety is key to keeping kids active. “There are so many things we can do to engage them and keep them interested,” she says.
During the half-hour kid’s fitness classes, Hinz focuses on teaching proper stretching, movement and coordination, and strength exercises; as well as educating children on muscle groups and nutrition. Separate classes are held each Thursday night for three to seven-year-olds and eight to 12-year-olds, and Hinz says each focuses on age-appropriate activities. “It’s practical, we teach a lot of things like skipping, jumping jacks and how to dribble a basketball.”
As a fitness instructor and mother, Hinz says it is important to her to encourage children to be active. “My goal is to make sure they understand exercise is and can be fun,” she says. “They have so much more confidence if they are healthy.”
Getting Everyone Involved
“If you’re going to get a gym membership, bring your kids,” says Hinz of the importance of involving the whole family in physical activity. “You are modeling for them.”
In addition to modeling an active lifestyle, Agnew stresses how important it is that kids see parents making good nutritional choices. “Parents are the best and primary teachers of everything their children value and believe,” she says. “Family meals are markers of successful children; it’s more than food.”
And although the fight against childhood obesity will need to start at home, it will take the efforts of the whole community to instill positive lifestyle changes in today’s youth, says Agnew. “We all have a responsibility to help each other.”