Apr

11

Community, schools must address childhood obesity, health … - Austin American-Statesman(Childhood Obesity News)

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Bill Dietz said that to control childhood obesity, ‘we need grass-roots engagement, and it is important to link the school and the community. A nationally renowned health specialist who spoke at the University of Texas on Thursday emphasized a holistic approach to controlling childhood obesity, including community outreach efforts and nutrition education in schools and homes. Dietz spoke at the second annual Michael and Susan Dell Lectureship in Child Health about the importance of policy-level changes to challenge obesity. He highlighted community-based interventions, exemplified by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation, which encourages physical activity and balanced nutrition plans for the residents of El Paso while providing grants for school-based initiatives that educate young students and staff about health. He also discussed the success Arkansas schools have had in fighting obesity by requiring 30 minutes of daily physical activity for children and education for cafeteria workers, among other policies. The message about the dangers of obesity must be used to create a social movement, he said. Read Childhood Obesity

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