Report Suggests Schools Must Do More to Address Childhood Obesity

Two years after the federal government required schools to implement wellness policies, the nonprofit group Action for Healthy Kids has released a report outlining progress to date, United Press International reports. The report notes that nearly 70 percent of the wellness policies adopted by school districts fail to meet minimum federal requirements. And though school administrators and food service professionals say that they have made great strides toward improving student wellness, 82 percent of parents contend that schools could do more. For example, while many schools have removed junk foods from cafeteria menus, most have not introduced additional fruits, vegetables and other healthy fare. The report also points out that schools nationwide continue to scale back or eliminate physical education programs amid funding and staffing constraints. Reflecting on the reasons for schools’ limited progress, the researchers suggest that educators “do not view students’ health and wellness as part of their core mission” and propose “weaving physical activity and healthful eating into the fabric of the school culture” as one way to address this issue. The report recommends that schools refocus their funding and purchasing patterns to emphasize physical education and food service programs and take steps to ensure that budgetary shortfalls do not result in cuts to those programs. In addition, the authors call on schools to engage parents in encouraging healthy student behaviors, particularly in underserved communities. “Real change has begun, and more is within reach,” the report says, but it warns that progress will be stunted without support from all levels of the education system and a wide range of stakeholders  (UPI, 8/7/08; Action for Healthy Kids report, Fall 2008).