The number of San Benito County children classified as overweight or obese declined by 5.6 percent from 2005 to 2010, according to a report released by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research last week. The study, put out by the organization with support from the California Center for Public Health Advocacy, looks at children in the fifth, seventh and ninth grades across the state.
Overall, the prevalence of overweight and obese children declined by 1.1 percent in the state, “suggesting that the 30-year trend of increasing childhood obesity rates may be leveling off,” according to the study. The researchers did note that while the rates decreased in some counties, such as San Benito, the rate increased in 31 counties in the state. San Benito was one of seven counties that had a decrease of at least 5 percent.
“It sounds like we are making strides,” said Rochelle Callis, the vice president of the Northern region of the Central Coast YMCA. “It is great to hear we are taking steps in the right direction, but we still have a long way to go.”
Even with the decrease, the number of children in San Benito County who are considered overweight or obese remains at 42 percent, a percentage that a number of local nonprofits and organizations are working to lower. That figure ranked San Benito as having the 10th-highest prevalence among statewide counties.
According to the study, “This regional variation is likely due to a number of factors, including differences in demographic, social, economic, and environmental characteristics, as well as differences in local policies and programs.”
Callis said that she thinks the decrease in San Benito is related to collaboration in the community.
“There is increased access to recreational facilities,” she said, noting the Dunne Park project that increased visits to the park. “There are increased activities there. They’ve done an awesome job. Our community is starting to find out more about things going on – DeAnza Trail and Hollister Hills – things that don’t necessarily cost money.”
The Youth Alliance (formerly the Hollister Youth Alliance) received a grant from the Health Trust in 2010 to look at improving Dunne Park. The grant allowed the agency to look at the way the park was being used, talk with residents about how they use the park and would like to use it in the future, and to start a plan for improvements. Since receiving the grant, more families have started to use the park and the Hollister Youth Alliance has promoted healthy snacks at some community events there.
The YMCA of San Benito County is also trying to create a roadmap for a healthier community with a grant from the Health Trust received in 2011.
“Looking at the (UCLA) report, I’d love to talk to a couple of the counties that had huge jumps and see how they made the huge jump,” Callis said, adding that some counties had 10-29 percent decreases. “We are moving in the right direction, but we need to keep doing what we are doing and continue to partner with each other.”
Also in recent years, the Harvest of the Month club has flourished in local elementary schools. The San Benito County Farm Bureau sponsors the program at many of the local elementary schools, where participating classrooms receive a box of fresh produce and a lesson plan each month. The program, administered by the Community Alliance for Family Farmers, based in Santa Cruz, strives to expose students to new fruits and vegetables.
In addition to the work of community groups, the UCLA researchers concluded that public policy will also play an integral part in reversing the trend of childhood obesity.
“Public policy options that promote healthy eating and physical activity will continue to be critical to reducing overweight and obesity among California’s youth,” the summary read.
The health concerns for children who are overweight and obese include increased risks for high cholesterol and high blood pressure, an indicator of cardiovascular disease, high fasting insulin (an early indicator of diabetes risk,) and a variety of musculoskeletal disorders. Children who are overweight or obese are also more likely to be overweight or obese as adults.
The figures in the study were calculated based on data from the California Physical Fitness Test from 2005 and 2010, which records the body mass index of students in fifth, seventh and ninth grade.
Callis speculated that with all the programs in schools and the community, by the time this year’s crop of kindergarten and first-grade students get to fifth-grade, there will be even more of a decrease in overweight and obese children.
“It is evidence that it doesn’t happen overnight,” Callis said, of the report. “In fives years we made a step in the right direction so we are doing something right. We need to keep doing it.”
