nutritIon teAM:

Amanda De Filippo

Michael Demmink

Leeauna Duchesne

Christine Hooper

Anna Lisa Malinine

Hilda O'Connor

Childhood Obesity: A Public Health Concern-

-The increasing prevalence of obesity in children and youth is a serious public health problem requiring immediate action

-Obesity rates among children and youth have nearly tripled in the last 30 years

-Almost one third of Canadian children and youth were overweight and obese in 2009-2011

(Health Canada, 2016; PHO, 2013; Statistics Canada, 2015)

Obese children are more likely to develop:

· high blood pressure · heart disease

· type 2 diabetes · sleep apnea

·abnormal menstrual cycles

·bone and joint problems

·low self esteem leading to depression

And are more likely to become obese adults with increased risk of:

· chronic disease

· premature mortality

· lowered social, educational and economic prospects

(PHO, 2013)

Direct health care $$$

2011 – 7 billion dollars

2021 – 8.8 billion dollars

(Bancej et al., 2015]

[www.srnutrition.co.uk]

Mind Map of Obesity:

Overview of nutritIon teAM's Apple Schools Intervention:

Vision: Healthy Kids in Healthy Schools.

Mission: Apple Schools will inspire and empower school communities to lead, and choose to be healthy by recommending and supporting measurable and sustainable changes.

[https://sttheresaschool.ca]

Extremely Promising Results:

-Apple Schools Students: ate 10% more fruits and vegetables and consumed 237 fewer calories per day

-Students were 40% less likely to be obese than children in comparison schools.

 -Educational outcomes improved and physical activity increased.

-Researchers also concluded that for every $1 spent on the program, there will be a $13 savings in future healthcare costs, which is an excellent return on the initial investment.

[Fung et al 2012; Tran, Ohinmaa, Kuhle, Johnson & Veugelers 2014; Vander Ploeg, McGavock, Maximova, Davis, & Veugelers 2014]

[^{http://healthyschoolsbc.ca/media/8768/csh_knowledge_guide_-_electronic_copy_final_2013.pdf]}

A Comprehensive Approach:

Ryerson’s 2017 PMDip in Dietetics graduates; ideal candidates for School Health Facilitator role:

[www.ryerson.ca]

[http://www.who.int/hia/evidence/doh/en/]

Geographical Focus of Apple Schools-

[www.wegrowfortheworld.com]

"Model Schools for inner cities"

-Ensures students grow up with only positive choices and opportunities needed to thrive: achievement enhances self-esteem which, in turn, fuels achievement!

-Focus: needs of children; equitable outcomes for all children.

-Collaboration with stakeholders such as families, staff, communities and governments.

[http://www.tdsb.on.ca]

Learning Opportunities Index (LOI)

-Ranking on measures of external challenges affecting students' academic success.

-All schools have some external challenges, even those low on the LOI.

-Toronto District School Board (TDSB) uses this Index to ensure that all students have equitable opportunities to succeed.

[http://www.tdsb.on.ca]

Learning Opportunities Index (LOI)

Variables combined into a single index:

-Median income

-% of families receiving social assistance

-Lone parent families

[www.appleschools.ca]

Gateway Public School, Flemingdon Park, North York.

[http://www.tdsb.on.ca]

[http://map.toronto.ca]

Proven Effective Interventions:

-Target healthy eating

-Involve parents

-Designs that are culturally sensitive

-Effective staff training

-Participatory activities

-Involve modified food environments in schools

-Longer in duration

-Integrate into school curriculum

[www.istockphoto.com]

Apple Schools Intervention: Successes

-Model for mental health support in action

-Reducing financial impacts

-Best practices in the making

-Research proving efficacy of intervention (in & outside the class)

-Future plans for expansion

[Fung et al., 2012]

Apple Schools Intervention: Challenges

1. Facilitator training

2.Teachers’ concerns with program sustainability and time limitations  

3. Weight bias

[Puhl & Heuer, 2009; Storey, Montemurro, Schwartz, Farmer, & Veugelers, 2015]

nutritIon teAM's Innovative Solutions:

1: Suggest that School Health Facilitators (SHF) be Registered Dietitians (RD's) with practice-based experience in health promotion.

2: Implement a longer duration for the intervention; 5 years (at least) instead of the original 3 year plan.

3: Work to reduce weight bias and stigmatization by focusing on the qualitative (mental, emotional) assessment of the children's well being rather than purely anthropomorphic measures.