"Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity" - Food Services Article - Irving ISD

Irving ISD Food Service Department
Joins Dallas Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity

Membership into coalition is one of many steps taken to improve health of students

The Irving ISD Food Service Department recently became a founding member of the Dallas Area Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity. At a symposium held on January 31, 2005, at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas, a gathering of medical experts, community leaders, public officials (including representatives from several area school districts), and other concerned parties gathered to begin a comprehensive strategy aimed at preventing childhood obesity.

Among the alarming information provided by Children’s Medical Center, consider the following:

	Texas exceeds the national average for school-age children who are overweight or at risk to be overweight.
	Since the 1970s, the percentage of children who are obese has more than doubled for preschoolers aged 2 to 5 years and adolescents ages 12 to 19 years. It has more than tripled for children ages 6 to 11 years.
	Obese children miss three to four times as much school as their healthy-weight peers.
	Children who are overweight face a 75% risk of becoming overweight adults.
	Overweight adults are at risk for a host of serious long-term illnesses, including: type 2 diabetes; cardiovascular disease; stroke; hypertension; high blood pressure; gallbladder disease; asthma; and certain cancers.
	Children who get adequate nutrients have higher test scores, less absenteeism, less difficulty concentrating, and higher energy levels.
	Well-nourished students who skip breakfast perform worse on tests and have poor concentration.

In light of this information, it is clear that something needs to be done to stop the dual epidemics of overweight and obesity in our Texas children. Susan Combs, Commissioner of the Texas Department of Agriculture, and a keynote speaker at the symposium, pointed to her Texas Public School Nutrition policy as a hearty step in the right direction. Locally, the IISD Food Service Department has adopted stricter standards than those called for in that policy, and the department continues to make substantial steps towards making school meals healthier and more nutritious.

As a founding member of the Dallas Area Coalition to Prevent Childhood Obesity, the Irving ISD Food Service Department is committed to being a partner in the fight against childhood obesity. Parents in the school district can be assured that their children are receiving healthy meals prepared in accordance with USDA nutrition policies and guidelines. More information regarding this critically important subject will be posted on this Web site on a regular basis.

For more information on obesity, visit
www.childrens.com