Slideshare presentation

Editor's Notes

• #2: Hi, Today I am going to talk about nutrition and physical activity for primary school aged children. I will cover the importance of a healthy lifestyle and some current statistics, nutrition and activity guidelines, the benefits of a healthy diet and exercise, practical applications, future research and government initiatives.
• #3: Children of a primary school age are ready to learn about healthy food and exercise. Primary school aged children are at an age when they start to have a busy social life, have pocket money and start to develop their own lifestyle. Children of this age will learn quickly as family still remains influential, but increasingly other forces such as school, peers and the media will have an effect on lifestyle choices. Children of this age need a well balanced diet and regular physical activity in order to set up good habits early in life. Research indicates that obese children have a much higher chance of becoming obese adults and they also have a higher risk of weight related ill health than those who became obese in adulthood. Findings from the 2007 National Child Nutrition and Physical Activity survey indicate that:one in four children aged between 2-16 are overweightMany children did not consume the recommended amounts of the five food groups set out in the dietary guidelines for children and adolescents in australiaMany children consumed excessive amounts of saturated fat and sugarOnly 69% met the national physical activity guidelines of at least one hour of moderate to vigorous activity per dayAdditional surveys find that boys are more active than girls and physical activity declines with age, many children consumed too many extra foods such as lollies, soft drinks and chips and one third of young people did not eat breakfast everyday. It is important that children learn to live a healthy lifestyle as early as possible in order to grow and develop but also to prevent obesity and chronic diseases such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease and cancer later in life.
• #4: The Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents provide advice on how to eat a healthy diet and improve quality of life for children and adolescents. They state that children should enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods, and specifically:Eat vegetables, legumes and fruitEat wholegrain cerealsInclude lean meat, fish, poultry or alternativesInclude milk, cheese, yogurt – preferably reduced fat for older childrenChoose water as a drinkLimit saturated fat and sugar and saltIn addition, children should should eat sufficient quantities of food to grow and develop normally and prepare and store food safely.
• #5: Australia’s physical activity recommendations for 5-12 year olds specify that:Children need at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, andChildren should not spend more than two hours a day using electronic equipment for entertainment, particularly during daylight hoursKids should take part in a range of activities that are fun, suit their interests, skills and abilities. Examples include organized team sports, cycling, swimming, running or any sort of active play
• #6: Proper nutrition ensures optimal growth and developmentStudies show a healthy diet helps prevent high blood cholesterol and high blood pressure and helps reduce risk of diseases such as cardiovascular disease, cancer and diabetes.Healthy eating also reduces the risk of developing obesity, osteoporosis, iron deficiency and dental cavitiesResearch shows a poor diet can negatively affect health, cognitive development, and school performanceMuch research also indicates that a healthy breakfast is associated with improved cognitive function, reduced absenteeism and improved mood
• #7: Exercise helps children feel more happy and relaxed – improves self-esteem and helps them to sleep betterHelps children maintain a healthy weight and feel more energeticImprove their fundamental movement skills and coordinationResearch shows physical activity has direct links to improved learning outcomes and cognitive functionImproves a child’s social skills – they make new friends, develop skills such as cooperation and teamworkExercise is also associated with a reduction in anti-social behavior
• #8: Children at this age can help with meal preparationFamily meals are important – positive relationship between families eating dinner together and the quality of a child’s dietParents should provide an abundance of healthy food at home, then child is responsible for how much they eatSnacking contributes a large part to daily energy intake – good quality snacks should be provided such as fruit, cheese, crackers, yogurt or vegetable sticksParents should act as a role model for healthy eating – important that no food should be overly forced or restrictedTry preparing food in different ways for varietyDiscourage children from eating whilst watching TV and encourage children to eat slowlyA significant amount of a child’s food is consumed at school – healthy lunch box ideas include - sandwiches with salad, soup, rice and noodle dishesIn addition, schools should provide nutritious and appealing food and drinks – nutrition should also be included in school health education curriculum
• #9: Keep the focus on fun and include a variety of different sportsGive kids plenty of opportunity to be active – take them to the park and provide equipmentChoose age appropriate activities and encourage childOffer incentives like pocket money for doing active households jobsEncourage child to walk or ride to school
• #10: There are many government initiatives currently being implemented in schools in order to promote a healthy lifestyle to school aged children – some of these include:National Healthy School Canteens Project – traffic light system with green/amber/red foods - green being high in nutrients/always available – amber being good source of nutrients but high in fat, sodium and energy and sometimes available in small portions – red low in nutrient/high in fat, sodium, energy and not soldJump Rope for Heart which encourages physical activity and raises money for heart disease and strokeFresh Tastes at School – also contains a canteen traffic light systemThe 2&5 fruit and vegetable programThere is evidence for programs similar to these having a positive effect. One study looked at the effects of a school based intervention on promotion of healthy lifestyles in 7-11 year olds. The study’s results indicated a positive effect on physical activity levels and body composition after the intervention had taken place.
• #11: Some further issues to think about:Banning junk food advertising during children’s viewing hours/or it is up to parents to control their child’s diet?Cheaper healthy canteen food/more expensive junk food at school?It’s not only important to implement healthy lifestyles at school but parents should also be involved because in the end they have a say in a child’s lifestyle outside of school. Future research could focus on a holistic approach to healthy lifestyle through involving schools, parents and the child.Future research could also focus on not only government intervention programs and regulation, but also more education, as without knowledge of what, why and how to implement a healthy lifestyle, people are less likely to change their behaviors.