For immediate release
April 1, 2002
Contact: Vickie Elisa
               (404) 294-3700

Fit Children Become Healthy Adults
DeKalb County Board of Health programs illustrate
National Public Health Week theme

Children who develop good nutrition and exercise habits carry these into adulthood. Encouraging children to eat properly and to get adequate exercise creates lifelong benefits.

The effects of childhood obesity are serious. Being overweight as a child may lead to hypertension, diabetes and early death as an adult.

Unfortunately, the problem of childhood obesity is widespread. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently reported that:

  • nearly half of youth ages 12 through 21 are not vigorously active on a regular basis and
  • only 18 percent of youth ages six through 17 eat the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day.

    There is a lot families can do to improve their eating and exercise practices.

      They can:
    • - take a walk or play together
    • - eat dinner together at the dining table
    • - limit the amount of television viewed
    • - eat fruit or vegetables for snacks, and
    • - try short periods of physical activity, beginning with ten minutes of vigorous activity three times a day.

    While families are influencing children at home, the DeKalb County Board of Health is reaching them in schools. With the agency's assistance, 13 DeKalb elementary schools have evaluated their nutrition and physical activity education, policies and programs by completing the CDC's School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating. Using this tool, the schools identify their needs and devise an improvement plan.

    In addition, the Board of Health is providing funding to help schools implement their plans. Strategies target improved dietary habits and increased physical activity levels among the school staff, students and parents, as well as the community. The school nutrition and physical activity grant program has awarded a total of $45,000 to eight schools thus far. Both the Status of Health in DeKalb committee and the Georgia Department of Human Resources are funding the grants.

    For example, Laurel Ridge Elementary is now offering nutrition awareness programs to students and staff, incorporating golf and tennis into the physical education curriculum and sponsoring a walking club. Seven fitness stations have been installed on the grounds of Evansdale Elementary. And, at the Lullwater School, students are benefiting from therapeutic exercise classes that use movement to increase their attention span.

    The DeKalb County Board of Health's initiatives to promote good nutrition and adequate exercise exemplify the "Healthy People in Healthy Communities" theme of National Public Health Week, April 1 through 7. For more information about the school nutrition and physical activity grant program, contact Robin Tanner, M.S., R.D., L.D., chronic disease prevention initiative coordinator, DeKalb County Board of Health, at (404) 294-3891 or retanner@gdph.state.ga.us. For information about other Board of Health programs and services, call (404) 294-3700 or visit dekalbhealth.net.

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