Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition: Library / Resources

Website developed and donated by INTEGRIS Health

(Washington, D.C.) Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett and Child Advocate Anne Roberts recently teamed up in our nation’s Capitol to make a special presentation about the work of the Oklahoma FIT KIDS Coalition at the U.S. Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting.

"Childhood obesity is threatening to rob Oklahoma of its best and brightest," said Mayor Cornett. "Business owners are becoming concerned that their future workforce will run up the costs of health insurance, and cost their employers in lost productivity. We are grateful for the work of the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition to help us turn the tide on this important problem."

Spurred in part by an article in a health magazine that ranked Oklahoma City and Tulsa low on a list of U.S. cities in terms of how healthy its residents are, Mayor Cornett and Tulsa Mayor Bill LaFortune launched a joint Mayors’ Fitness Challenge in November 2005. The Mayors received assistance in their efforts from a number of organizations, including the Fit Kids Coalition.

"The Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition has been remarkably successful in our legislative efforts. The University of Baltimore publishes a report card comparing all 50 states’ efforts to fight childhood obesity. In one year, Oklahoma rose from an "F" to a "B", and is now ranked as one of the top 12 states. We improved our ranking by getting junk food out of schools, and re-instating physical education," said Anne Roberts, Project Director for the Coalition. "It was a text-book example of citizen-generated change, and one that U.S. Mayors can certainly replicate in their own communities."

For more information on the Mayors Challenge, or the Oklahoma Fit Kids Coalition, go to http://www.mayorsfitnesschallenge.com/.

MyPyramid for Kids provides age-appropriate information about the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPyramid Food Guidance System released earlier this year. The new MyPyramid for Kids symbol represents the recommended proportion of food from each food group and focuses on the importance of making smart food choices every day. Daily physical activity is prominent in MyPyramid for Kids. Through an interactive game, lesson plans, colorful posters and flyers, worksheets, and valuable tips for families, MyPyramid for Kids encourages children, teachers, and parents to work together to make healthier food choices and be active every day.

For more information and resources, go to My Pyramid for Kids.

Promoting Healthy Schools in Oklahoma & Creating Wellness Where Oklahoma Students Learn

This Manual is a comprehensive guide intended to provide guidance and resources to Oklahoma schools, in particular Healthy & Fit School Advisory Committees, to improve school health policies and programs.

Includes:

	Research on the role of health in academic achievement
	School health assessment tools
	Student health assesment tools
	Oklahoma school health policies and laws
	Oklahoma school success stories
	Comprehensive list of school health websites

View the Safe Health School Manual (PDF)

The School Health Index (SHI) Self-Assessment & Planning Guide was developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in partnership with school administrators and staff, school health experts, parents, and national nongovernmental health and education agencies for the purpose of:

	Enabling schools to identify strengths and weaknesses of health and safety policies and programs,
	Enabling schools to develop an action plan for improving student health, which can be incorporated into the School Improvement Plan, and
	Engaging teachers, parents, students and the community in promoting health-enhancing behaviors and better health.

The SHI is a self-assessment and planning tool that schools can use to improve their health and safety policies and programs. It's easy to use and completely confidential.

For more information on using the School Health Index, Click Here

Physical Education, Physical Activity, and Academic Performance, Fall 2007 Research Brief, from Active Living Research, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation,

In schools across the United States, physical education has been substantially reduced—and in some cases completely eliminated—in response to budget concerns and pressures to improve academic test scores. Yet the available evidence shows that children who are physically active and fit tend to perform better in the classroom, and that daily physical education does not adversely affect academic performance. Schools can provide outstanding learning environments while improving children’s health through physical education.

To view more information please click the Active Education link.

The OK KIDS COUNT Factbook is a publication which reports on the well-being of children and youth in Oklahoma at the county and state level. The Factbook promotes data based decisions for policy and program planning.

You can use this link, Oklahoma Kids Count Factbook 2007-2008 to view the most recent copy of the Kids COUNT Factbook.

Do you ever feel like your schedule is too full? Too many commitments, not enough time for you and your family to be together? If so, you are in good company. We work long hours to have nice things to enjoy and then never have time to enjoy them.

We drive through the nearest fast-food restaurant to get some quick bite to eat because we are too tired to cook. Our families are paying the price. Childhood obesity is considered an epidemic that is upon us. Our kids are graduating from high school and we didn't get the chance often enough to just sit with them awhile and talk.

We want to bring families and friends back together at the dinner table. Talking, laughing, sharing...making memories. Protecting our emotional and physical health. Problem is, if we get everyone back together, then what? What do we cook to be conscious of time and nutrition? The art of cooking is becoming a lost art.

Together at the Table is our way of beginning to find solutions for busy people. We will show viewers how to cook healthy meals in almost no time. We'll heighten awareness of the problems of childhood obesity and how you can help your kids make better choices.

Together at the Table airs on Wednesdays at Noon and Sunday mornings on KWTV, Channel 9 News in Oklahoma City. To learn more about Together at the Table, Click here

Are We Making Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity?

A newly released report from the Institute of Medicine, Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up?, finds that the nation is starting to comprehend the seriousness of the childhood obesity epidemic. However, the report suggests that we are not applying enough resources to address the problem. Additionally, the report indicates a pressing need for evaluation of existing programs and better tools to monitor progress.

Read a summary and download full text of the report

View webcast of IOM public briefing

The National Survey of Children's Health: Overweight and Physical Activity Among Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation, 2005

Get interactive, online access to national and state data from the National Survey of Children's Health - plus resources and technical support for using the data results.

http://www.nschdata.org/Content/Default.aspx

And get a copy of the survey, Overweight and Physical Activity Among Children: A Portrait of States and the Nation, 2005.

http://nschdata.org/documents/OverweightChartBook.pdf

New NHPF Publication Examines Effects of Food Marketing to Kids

The National Health Policy Forum announces the availability of a new issue brief Effects of Food Marketing to Kids: I'm Lovin' It?

This issue brief reviews key findings and recommendations from the Institute of Medicine study on food marketing and its effects on childhood obesity. The brief describes the childhood obesity epidemic, discusses key trends associated with rising childhood obesity rates, and considers the relative role of marketing practices on diet and obesity within the broader context of complex contributory factors.

Now one of the Nation's Top 12

The University of Baltimore has released its 2nd annual Obesity Report Card, which compares all 50 states' legislative efforts to fight child obesity.

In one year, Oklahoma rose in status as one of the worst states (having taken no action to fight child obesity) to one of the top 12. We're one of 11 states given a B grade.

Oklahoma's improved last year's F by restricting student's access to vending machines, bringing back physical education (at least 60 minutes per week), and forming school health advisory committees at every school.

We take pride in this accomplishment - one that would not have been possible withouth the support of legislators, school administration, parents, community members, and the Fit Kids Coalition.

We look forward to continued momentum on this vital public health issue.

To find the study, click here.