Downsizing the Student Body

[Guest guest]

How to downsize the student body

By Nanci Hellmich, USA TODAY

LAS VEGAS ­ Students could avoid thousands of calories a year if their

schools offered smaller servings of brand-name chips and sodas. And college

kids can avoid the Freshman 15 ­ that dreaded weight gain that often

accompanies that first year ­ if they are taught the ABCs of good nutrition.

These are among the findings from dozens of new studies on child and

adolescent obesity being discussed here at the annual meeting of the North

American Association for the Study of Obesity. The conference is a

partnership with the American Diabetes Association.

Experts are looking for practical ways to stop the obesity epidemic in this

country. Overall, about 16% of children are overweight, and about the same

number are at risk of becoming so. Kids are about 9 pounds heavier today

than in the early 1960s, and teens' weight has increased 12 to 16 pounds

over 40 years, according to recent government statistics. Extra pounds put

children at a greater risk of becoming heavy adults and increase their

chances of developing health problems such as type 2 diabetes and high

cholesterol.

Almost everyone agrees that something needs to be done. A recent report by

the National Academies' Institute of Medicine called for wide-ranging

changes, including setting nutritional standards for brand-name foods and

drinks sold at schools.

Here's a look at some of the new research and what the nutrition experts

say parents can do to help their children control their weight.

Tip the scale in their favor

Expert: Marie-France Hivert at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec.

New study: Researchers recruited 115 students who were at healthy weights;

average age, 19. Students were divided into two groups. One group met

regularly and learned about healthy eating and physical activity. The other

group received no guidance. At the end of one year, members who met

regularly had lost a half-pound, and the other students had gained an

average of 2½ pounds.

Her advice to students: " During a long study day, take active breaks. Go

for a walk or dance around your room. Try to avoid taking the lazy way

around campus. Use the stairs; park farther away; walk to class. Enjoy

every season. During the winter, go skating, skiing or play hockey. During

the summer, take a bike ride, Rollerblade, play ultimate Frisbee, go

hiking, swim, play soccer.

" To feel full faster, start meals with a soup and add vegetables, even if

it's a frozen dinner or pizza. "

Keep your eyes on the size

Expert: Cullen, associate professor of pediatrics at the Children's

Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

New study: Researchers did a statistical analysis of the potential calorie

savings for students at 23 middle schools in Texas if the schools switched

to smaller portions of brand-name foods in à la carte lines and snack bars.

Their analysis was based on serving chips in 1¼-ounce bags instead of

3¾-ounce bags, and serving sodas, juice drinks and other sweetened

beverages in 12-ounce cans and bottles instead of 20-ounce bottles.

Based on the amount usually consumed and the number of students, the

researchers estimate an average student would save at least 47 calories a

day for the school year.

Her advice to parents: " Kids are faced with supersized portions that they

think are normal. Parents have a harder task because they often buy a big

bag of chips, and it's hard to police that.

" They need to show kids that a serving is a portion of chips that fits into

a small cereal bowl or on a small dessert plate. They can't just say what

to do. They need to model this also. "

Lower the chances of a higher weight

Expert: Jack Yanovski, a pediatric endocrinologist and head of the Unit on

Growth and Obesity, National Institute of Child Health and Human

Development in Bethesda, Md.

New study: Researchers at the National Institutes of Health measured

baseline symptoms of depression, dieting, binge eating and disturbed eating

attitudes (such as feeling guilty about overeating or being too concerned

with their weight or body shape) in 108 kids, average age 8½, who were

overweight or at risk of becoming so because of a family history of

obesity. The experts measured the kids' body weight and body fat at the

start and again three years later. They found that depression, dieting,

bingeing and disturbed attitudes were all associated with higher body

weight at the start of the study. Three years later, all those factors

except depression were associated with increased weight gain.

His advice to parents: " Emphasize healthy eating and physical activity

rather than focusing on appearance and encouraging restrictive dieting. If

children seem preoccupied with their shape and weight, are restricting

their food intake without medical supervision or feel that their eating is

out of control, parents may want to discuss these concerns with a doctor or

registered dietitian. "

Sweep away most of that high-fat stuff

Name: , clinical director of the Weight and Eating Disorders

Program at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia.

New study: University researchers worked with the Philadelphia school

district and the Food Trust, a non-profit group, to track 921 students in

10 elementary schools. Children in five schools got a revamped school lunch

program with healthier choices (fewer fried foods, no sodas) plus 50 hours

a year of nutrition education. The kids in the other schools did not get

any intervention. After one year, fewer kids in the intervention schools

were overweight or at risk of becoming so than in the group that was not

helped.

His advice to parents: " Structure the home environment so making healthy

foods is easier for your kids. Don't have a lot of high-fat, high-sugar

foods available. Chips, soda and cookies should not be as accessible as

healthier options like water, fruit, yogurt. Set limits on TV and video use. "

Play ball ­ not videos

Name: Bernard Gutin, professor of pediatrics and physiology at the Georgia

Prevention Institute, Medical College of Georgia in Augusta.

New study: Researchers followed 600 third-graders at 18 different schools

in Augusta. Student at nine schools could attend after-school sessions that

offered healthy snacks and 70 to 80 minutes of moderate to vigorous

physical activity, including basketball, soccer and dancing. Kids at the

other schools had no intervention. Children's bone mass and body fat were

measured after one year. Researchers found that kids who attended at least

40% of the activity sessions built more muscle and bone, added less fat and

developed more cardiovascular fitness than kids at the control school.

His advice to parents: " Being outside is the key. If you get them outside,

they are away from the TV and snacks, and they are in an environment where

they can move more. If that's not possible because of safety concerns, get

them into a community center or YMCA program that is supervised and safe.

Give them a Christmas gift that's active (a bike, basketball, soccer ball,

activity program membership), not passive like video games. "

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Tory Klementsen, MCP A+

Career and Technology Educator

The successful person will do the things that the unsuccessful person will

not.