Although, Utah has historically been one of the least obese states in the U.S., obesity levels have increased over the last few years. According to information from America's Health Rankings, Hispanics have a 29.4% obesity rate in Utah, compared to only 23.1% of non-Hispanic Whites Rep. Stewart Barlow (R-Fruit Heights) of Utah is working to raise awareness about obesity, by sponsoring a resolution to acknowledge that obesity is a growing problem in Utah. One of the main provisions of this resolution states that Utah will support policies that would increase access to healthy food and physical activity. The resolution recognizes the need to support policies that promote increased access to healthy food and physical activity in Utah. According to a 2005 report, Latino (10.4%) high ...
In 2013, HB 525 and SB 392 were introduced as companion bills to encourage the adoption of shared use (joint use) agreements in Florida and to promote physical activity during non-school time. Because taxpayer money is used to operate schools, legislators argue that facilities should be available to the public during after school hours. Along with most other states across the country, obesity and lack of physical activity are increasingly a problem among children in Florida. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), less than half of the children across the country have access to parks, sidewalks, or recreation centers. In order to create more places for play, Rep. Jake Raburn (R-Valrico) sponsored HB 525 (2013) to keep school playgrounds open during after ...
Parent organization Real Food for Kids (RFFK) aims to improve the nutritional quality of food served at the public schools in Fairfax County, Va. These parents want all students to get healthy, fresh food that will fuel their bodies for physical and educational performance. As stated on their website: “We know, just as you do, that when a child is well-fed with nutritious, real food, he/she is healthier, better behaved and better able to succeed in and out of the classroom.” By doing research and educating themselves, they discovered the volume and breadth of processed foods and foods with artificial dyes and additives being served at their schools, even though these foods were allowed by USDA nutrition guidelines for school lunches. The parent group advocated for a new ...
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs across the nation are providing children the opportunity to participate in physical activity by walking to school, while also reducing vehicular emissions, and relieving cities of traffic congestion. The SRTS program was originally introduced as a Federal-Aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) created by Section 1404 of the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users Act (SAFETEA-LU) in 2005. With the passage of MAP-21, as of October 2012, federal funds specifically appropriated towards the SRTS program were no longer available to states. Still, states can still develop SRTS programs and seek support from the MAP-21's new transportation alternatives ...
According to this October 2012 article, from Safe Routes to School in California, a new law (AB 1915) will help improve infrastructure and programs to increase pedestrian and bicyclist safety in underserved areas of California. The state policy introduced by Sen. Luis Alejo (D- California) allocates up to 10% of Safe Routes to School program funds towards infrastructure improvements, for school bus stops outside the vicinity of school. The bill serves as an act to amend Section 2333.5 of the Streets and Highways Code, for the state of California relating to transportation, and allows for more flexibility in how funds are spent. The article also cites the 2007 National Survey of Children's Health finding, that children in rural areas had a greater chance (42%) of being overweight or ...
Schools belonging to the Northside Independent School District (NISD) in San Antonio, Texas, will use funds received through Safe Routes to School Programs to improve sidewalks and infrastructure near Glass elementary and Pat Neff middle school. This, February 2011, NISD slideshow presentation describes the difference between the infrastructure and non-infrastructure Safe Routes to School grants. It also provides an overview of the planned projects and a timeline for when they are expected to be completed. According to this letter, authored by District 7 Council member Cris Medina, through the city's general obligation funds and a matching Safe Routes to School Grant, the $1.2 million project is expected to be completed by the winter of 2012. This brochure describes where ...
By 2011, Colorado elementary schools were required to provide students with at least 600 minutes of physical activity a month. According to one study, providing daily physical education classes would increase moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) levels by 23 minutes a day. The study from the American Journal of Preventive Medicine found that classroom activity breaks provided an average of 19 minutes of MVPA and that active commuting provided 16 minutes of MVPA. Park renovations provided children with an extra 12 minutes of MVPA. Although, limited data exists on whether school districts are complying with this policy, according to this EdNews Colorado article, schools like Red Hawk elementary school have started making positive changes. Kyle Legleiter, a public policy ...
Children in Brownsville are staying active by dancing Zumba. In April of 2012, Brownsville set a world record for hosting the largest Zumbatomic event ever. About 1,000 community members were in attendance for the event and from this group 383 children, ages 15 and under, participated to set a new world record. Zumbatomic is a variation of Zumba, the popular Latin dance work-out routine, that is designed for children ages 15 and under. As this video demonstrates, anyone can dance Zumba, even children. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I-NRAVIPAyI The Zumbatomic event was created as a spin-off of the Brownsville Biggest Loser Challenge--a free 16-week challenge that serves to encourage adults to eat healthier foods and become more active. During these 16 weeks, free Zumba classes, fitness ...
The state of Massachusetts launched its Mass in Motion initiative in January 2009 to promote wellness and to prevent obesity. Through Mass in Motion, coordinators in Springfield identified a need to provide children with more safe places for physical activity. Members of Mass in Motion, sought opportunities for funding and identified two school gyms in areas of need, where after school physical activity programs could be developed. Because Mass in Motion had previously partnered with the Parks Department and the school district, they were able to keep gyms open during after school hours to provide children with a basketball program. Although a formal shared use agreement was not signed, Mass in Motion enabled children in Springfield to participate in after school physical activity ...
