Schools
urged to teach more on heart risks
Tuesday, October 12, 2004 • BY JAMIE
STENGLE • Associated Press
DALLAS -- Schools should be more aggressive in teaching
children about heart disease and the risks of bad diet and
little exercise, the American Heart Association said
yesterday.
The call for bolder action in schools follows the
Institute of Medicine's recommendations last month calling
for a wide-ranging attack on childhood obesity by involving
parents, schools, communities and the government.
Estimates are that more than 15 percent of American
children are very overweight, or obese.
Laura Hayman, a nurse and professor who wrote the heart
association statement, said national data show about 80
percent of children aren't getting the recommended five or
more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. She also
said that 44 percent of high school students aren't in
physical education classes.
"Through schools, hopefully you can reach the children,
teachers and parents," said Hayman, who teaches at New York
University and Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute of
New York.
Experts agree that the schools are a good place to
start.
Judith Young of the Virginia-based nonprofit group
American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation
and Dance, said educating kids on the issue is
critical.
"If we don't teach them how to keep themselves healthy,
then all the other things kind of don't matter."
The heart association statement, published in the
journal Circulation, calls for more physical education
classes, heart-healthy meals and a tobacco-free environment
from preschools through 12th grade and during after-school
programs.
Obesity is linked to diabetes, high blood pressure, high
cholesterol and other problems, and it's a risk factor for
cardiovascular disease, Hayman said.
The heart association recommendations call for teaching
kids the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease and
ways to avoid it.
The group also recommends that physical education be
required at least three times a week from kindergarten
through 12th grade -- with 150 minutes in school each week
for elementary students and at least 225 minutes per week
for middle-school students.
According to the recommendations, school meals should
meet heart-healthy guidelines.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs, who issued a
school nutrition policy that took effect this year
restricting fried and fatty servings and setting other food
rules, said that school administrators understand the
importance of physical education and nutrition, but they are
dealing with limited resources.
More health education, for instance, might cost money
for printed materials.
"A lot of (schools) are saying we'd love to do it, but
give us the resources," Combs said.
© 2004 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with
permission.
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