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In the Race
Now, here, you see, it takes all the blogging I can do to keep in the same place. If I want to get somewhere else, I must blog twice as fast as that! You see, I'm in the Red Queen's Race...
Fatty Kids (or fatty acids)?
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?
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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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