More than a third of the children in the area are overweight and
at risk of serious diseases, such as diabetes, according to a study
released this week.
Hollister – More than a third of the children in the area are overweight and at risk of serious diseases, such as diabetes, according to a study released this week.
“It is a local health disaster,” said Harold Goldstein, executive director of the Davis-based California Center for Public Health Advocacy, which released a study this week that found that 33.7 percent of children in California’s 28th Assembly District, which includes all of San Benito County, are overweight. Figures for San Benito County alone are not available.
Statewide, 28 percent of children are overweight, according to the study, which is based on fitness-test scores collected between 2001 and 2004.
Though the study shows that the number of overweight children in the area decreased by nearly 4 percent during that time, Goldstein said that children in District 28 are still at a high risk of developing diabetes and other diseases.
“It’s a decrease. It’s nice to see numbers have gone down a little, but the number of overweight children is still far higher than the statewide average,” he said.
The CCPHA studied child obesity by assembly district in hopes that their findings would motivate elected officials to act.
District 28 Assemblyman Simon Salinas said that he was encouraged to see that the percentage of overweight children had decreased, and that credit should be given to organizations that work to educate people about nutrition.
“Certainly the numbers are tracking in the right direction, but they’re still alarming,” he said, adding that he supports legislative efforts to get junk food out of schools.
Childhood obesity, resulting from poor food choices and lack of exercise, is something that county health officials are keenly aware of, according to County Health Officer Elizabeth Falade.
“It’s a major concern,” she said. “Conventional wisdom says it’s too many hours in front of the TV. And choices of food that are easily prepared are not always the most healthy.”
As part of a state funded program, county health department staff lecture childcare providers, preschool teachers and parents about good nutritional habits, hoping to create a nutrition consciousness in young children that they will follow as they get older, according to Falade.
Also, she said that a group within the county has been meeting for about a year to discuss getting state funding for a wellness center that would have an education program and nutritionists. State funding is out there, she said, but San Benito County will have to compete with other counties to get it.
“We want to get healthy messages out to the public,” Falade said.
For Goldstein, the fight against childhood obesity needs to start in the state’s schools.
“School has become a soda and junk food superstore,” he said.
In 2003, California banned the sale of soft drinks in middle and elementary schools. And Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger is supporting legislation that would extend the ban to high schools. Another bill making its way through the capitol would apply nutritional standards to food sold in school snack bars and vending machines.
While food intake has a lot to do with childhood obesity, lack of physical activity is also a major contributor.
“Kids don’t exercise at recess that much,” Falade said, adding that there is a dearth of places in the county for children to play outdoors.
According to County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley, county schools follow state standards for physical education: 20 minutes a day for first through sixth grade, and 40 minutes a day for junior high and high school students.
Falade’s advice to parents is to stop their children from drinking soft drinks, juices and other sugary beverages
“Parents should give their kids things other than highly sweetened drinks,” she said. “Encourage them to play outside, and get the boys off the Gameboy.”
For Goldstein, the results of the study carry an ominous message.
“This generation of children could be the first to have a shorter life-span than their parents,” he said.
Luke Roney covers politics and the environment for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at [email protected].
