Pediatric Guidelines - School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
Pediatric Guidelines:
School Health Guidelines to Promote Healthy Eating and Physical Activity
In schools, eating right and getting enough exercise are both very important. Sometimes, a school lunch and a physical education class are the only good meal and exercise time a child gets, depending on the life he or she has at home. Whether students know about eating healthy or simply want to learn, a school can create a supportive environment for that (Ogden, et al., 2002; Taras, 2005). The same is true for exercise, because many students do not live in areas where they can safely play outside, or they may find video games and other indoor pursuits more interesting (Lawton, 2009). With as much time as is spent on the internet and social media, some children rarely get outdoors at all, and that can seriously harm their health. If it is coupled with a poor diet, high in fat and calories, obesity can occur (CDC, 2010). It is being seen at younger and younger ages, and children and adolescents are struggling with their weight much more frequently than they did in the past (CDC, 2010).
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) created guidelines for healthy eating and physical activity in children that are followed by many schools throughout the country (CDC, 2010). These guidelines are the foundation for the development and implementation of physical activity and healthy eating policies. Schools then took the guidelines and used them to create their own programs to help students be more successful with their eating and exercise habits (Freedman, et al., 2007). By getting students interested in eating healthy foods and showing them that physical activity can be enjoyable, schools can help children get on a path that will lead students toward greater health and happiness in the present and the future (Daniels, et al., 2005; Freedman, et al., 2007).
Literature Review
The nine guidelines that have been created by the CDC are excellent points for discussion. They will be used here in order to showcase the importance of each guideline and address how they are used when schools create their own plans for healthy eating and physical activity for their students. Literature will also be reviewed that reinforces the value of the guidelines and focuses on the ways in which children can benefit from programs that help them with healthy eating habits and physical activity.
The first guideline is to use a coordinated approach to develop, implement, and evaluate healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices (CDC, 2010). Until a school is aware of what it is already doing and what it can provide that it is not currently offering to students, very little can be accomplished. Developing a plan may sound simple, but it actually takes a large amount of work (Hoyland, Dye, & Lawton, 2009). Once the plan is developed, time and effort is also needed to implement the plan. Working together is necessary in order to make sure students are receiving what they need in the way of exercise, as well as getting healthy foods during school lunch periods (Taras, 2005). Implementation of a plan is not enough, as it has to be evaluated frequently to ensure it is working correctly (Taras, 2005). If changes need to be made, they should be made early so as to make them as easy as possible and help the largest number of students.
Schools must establish environments that support healthy eating and physical activity (CDC, 2010). If the environment of a school is not conducive to these activities, they will not take place even if the school administration is focused on making things better for their students (Daniels, et al., 2005). Playgrounds with plenty of options for children of all physical activity levels are important, as are meal choices that are both healthy and good tasting (Healthy, 2010). Schools have to focus on the children and make sure their needs are met, but they also have to work with the children to teach them healthy habits that can last for a lifetime. By doing that, they will help kids feel better and learn more easily because they have the opportunity to get some exercise and eat properly (Ogden, et al., 2002).
Educational institutions should also provide a quality school meal program and ensure that students have only appealing, healthy food and beverage choices offered outside of the school meal program (CDC, 2010). One...
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