School Health
Student Obesity Rates Decline
For the first time since 2004, the rates of Escambia students who are overweight
or at risk for becoming overweight are declining. The Health Department and
School District announced today that every measured grade level decreased except
for one grade that remained the same. Parents are notified -- in letters that go
out today -- if their child’s body mass index (BMI) is under, at, or above the
healthy range for their child's age group. The school health nurses measure
students in the 1st, 3rd, 6th and 9th grades, which is required by the state of
Florida. BMI is a measurement of body fat based on height and weight and is used
to screen for health problems resulting from an unhealthy body weight.
Read News Release
(73kb;
pdf)
Read Letter to Parents(60kb;
pdf)
The mission of the School Health Department is to enhance
learning by promoting health and wellness for children in Escambia County.
The strength of the School Health
Department is found in its caring, creative, committed and competent staff who are making a positive impact on the health of students
and children in Escambia County. Our department
serves children and students in childcare programs, pre-K, Headstart, and
schools.
Our services include:
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Medication Administration
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Review of
immunization and health
records
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Nursing assessments, counseling, and care
plan development
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Health screenings including vision,
hearing, growth & development, scoliosis, blood pressure
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Referrals and follow-up for health problems
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Home visits
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Classroom presentations for health issues
and health fairs
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Staff training for health procedures
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Set health policies and guidelines
Our program is
focusing on the issue of Childhood Obesity during the 2006/2007 school
year. This school year, we found that 21% of our students were overweight and another 17% were at risk for
overweight. We are working with the Escambia County School District to
implement steps to help children improve their nutrition and physical
activity habits.
If the childhood
obesity epidemic continues unchecked, we may be raising the first
generation of children in the history of our nation who will have a
shorter life expectancy than that of their parents. How can you help?
The Core Recommendations for
Healthy Families
(4kb; pdf)
were created as a result of the
Escambia County School District Obesity Taskforce in cooperation with the
Escambia County Health Department. They are based on guidelines and
recommendations of numerous agencies and organizations including the United
States Department of Health and Human Services, the American Dietetic
Association, the National Association for Sports and Physical Education, and the
American Academy of Pediatrics. It is the group’s goal that ALL families in
Escambia County receive the same recommendations relating to nutrition, physical
activity, and making healthy changes.
Nutrition
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Choose a variety of foods.
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Aim
to eat at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day.
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Include 3 servings a day of low-fat milk or dairy products.
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Choose fiber rich whole-grains.
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Select lean meats.
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Eat
foods low in saturated fat, trans fat and total fat.
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Limit
foods and drinks that are high in sugar such as candy and soda.
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Drink
plenty of water everyday.
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Plan
ahead for eating healthy snacks.
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Eat a
healthy breakfast everyday.
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Serve smaller portions.
Physical Activity
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Elementary school children should accumulate at least 60 minutes of physical
activity everyday.
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Children should not have extended periods (two hours or more) of inactivity.
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Children should participate each day in a variety of age-appropriate physical
activities to promote lifetime fitness.
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All adolescents should be physically active
each day, engaging in three or more sessions per week of moderate to vigorous
activities that last 20 minutes or more at a time.
Limit television watching, video games, and
computer-related activities to no more than 2 hours per day outside of school.
Making Changes
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Balance food choices with physical activity
for a healthy body.
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Set a
good example for children by making physical activity and healthy eating a part
of your daily routine.
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Focus
on small but permanent changes for better health.
School Health Main Office
(850) 484-5100
Monday – Friday 7:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
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