Report: Obesity busting

programs show success
By Scott Nicholson

Obesity-prevention efforts led to more physical activity among school-aged children last year, according to data compiled by a non-profit organization.

The number of teachers who report that students are more active during their physical education classes increased by 5 percent in the year since the In-School Prevention of Obesity and Disease’s program was implemented.

The percentage of students who agree or strongly agree that they enjoy doing physical activity at home increased, as did the percentage of students who were physically active 60 minutes or more for three or more days per week.

Locally, a portion of a $400,000 obesity-prevention grant last year provided training for physical education teachers. “They have been using it,” said Jennifer Greene, health educator for the Appalachian District Health Department.

“The grant helped to provide additional equipment for each school.”

Local grants also paid for software to help track physical activity levels for children, with the information turned in to the state.

Each Watauga County school received $2,000 as a supplement for the effort.

In-School Prevention of Obesity and Disease (IsPOD) is a comprehensive school prevention program to improve physical activity and eating habits in order to reduce obesity and the number of overweight children in grades K-8.

It reached 37 school districts and two city school systems in the past year in Sports Play and Active Recreation for Kids curriculum training.

North Carolina has the fifth-highest rate of overweight and obese youth in the nation.

More than 500 teachers and nearly 116,000 students completed the surveys. Greene said county-level survey data was not yet available.

Results showed that 62 percent of student respondents only have physical education two days or less per week and approximately 44 percent of student respondents ages 5 to 18 are overweight or obese.

The IsPOD initiative is a comprehensive school prevention program to improve physical activity and eating habits in order to reduce obesity and the number of overweight children in grades K-8.

The data was compiled by the North Carolina Alliance for Athletics, Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance.