Lowering Childhood Obesity a Priority

The links between physical activity, food offered in schools and obesity in children is being addressed jointly by Nova Scotia Health Promotion and the Department of Education.

In a study released today, Sept. 13, by the Canadian Institute for Health Information, Dr. Paul Veugelers, of the faculty of medicine and dentistry at the University of Alberta and Angela Fitzgerald of Nova Scotia Health Promotion, showed that purchasing lunch at school, the income of a family, and the amount of physical education offered in schools were key factors affecting a child's weight.

"I'm happy to say we have work in progress to specifically address the issues raised in this study," said Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald. "Our priority this year is helping families eat healthier food and become more active. Schools are one setting in which we're starting to make change."

"The health and well-being of our students are important," said Education Minister Jamie Muir. "We're working with our partners to improve access to healthy food choices in schools and provide more resources to give all children the opportunity to become more physically active in and out of school."

Health Promotion and the Department of Education are working together on a number of initiatives including:

• funding for partnerships of school boards and district health authorities to implement Health Promoting Schools programs that increase access to healthy eating and physical activity;
• adding 60 qualified physical education teachers over the next four years as part of Learning for Life II: Brighter Futures Together;
• new support for breakfast programs(a breakfast program co-ordinator will be hired by Breakfast for Learning-Nova Scotia Advisory Council this month to support the development of the provincial breakfast programs);
• implementation of the provincial school food and nutrition policy beginning in the 2005-06 school year. This policy will address foods served and sold in schools (consultations are being held this month and next);
• the hiring of an additional public health nutritionist per district health authority to support the implementation of the Healthy Eating Nova Scotia strategy;
• grants to school boards to hire an active healthy living consultant to help ensure that students get the quality learning experiences they need to develop the skills, knowledge, and attitudes to enjoy lifelong active and healthy living.

"It's no secret that a person's income is a key factor in how healthy they are," said Scott Logan, assistant deputy minister, Nova Scotia Health Promotion. "We know it's no good just telling people to eat their vegetables, stay safe and get active. People need meaningful help and advice in the places they live, work and play, including schools. That's what we're working towards in Health Promotion and the Department of Education."

In addition to work with schools, Health Promotion is working with partners on food costs and initiatives related to food security to make it easier for all Nova Scotians to access safe, affordable, and healthy foods.

For more information on Health Promotion initiatives to reduce overweight and obesity rates in children and improve food security, see the fact sheet on the website at www.gov.ns.ca/ohp . The Department of Education's Learning for Life II: Brighter Futures Together can be found on the website at www.EDnet.ns.ca .