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“Sugary beverages are the number one source of sugar in our diets”, stated May Okihiro, a local Pediatrician speaking in a film about the need for the new water bottle filling stations in the state of Hawai’i.
The partnership between the University of Hawai’i Manoa John A. Burns School of Medicine and Kaiser Permanente Hawai’i has provided a water bottle filling station to 25 schools in the state and reusable water bottles for the students. The partnership hopes to incorporate educational awareness about healthier beverage consumption as a part of the school’s wellness policies.
All students received a colorful new water bottle, encouraging them to use it daily at the water bottle refilling station. The Be Well @ School project is an initiative for the Hawaiian schools to offer 31,000 students a healthier life and incorporating healthier school wellness policies that promote healthier beverage consumption in schools.
Water is the healthier beverage for Latino youth and youth of color, who are more at risk for certain health risks like obesity and diabetes. Offering school wellness initiatives to make healthier choices the easier choices may help deter health risks for Latino youth.
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