Obesity

Obesity

Combating obesity in adults and children is on of the main goals for the IPLAN.  Logan County is the 2nd most obese county in the state of Illinois.

CATCH (Coordinated Approach to Children's Health) is a national program designed to combat childhood obesity. It was brought to Logan County by the We Choose Health grant in 2014. Healthy Communities Partnership continues to work with the health department to offer this program in the county. The CATCH approach targets nutrition and physical activity in school and at home by involving school administration, classroom teachers, support staff, and parent leaders in the education and implementation of the program. Schools in Logan County can contact the Logan County Deaprtment of Public Health for more information.

Current CATCH schools in the county are:

For More information on:

Cardiovascular Disease 

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

American Heart Association

National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

Illinois Department of Public Health

Nutrition

National Dairy Council

Nutrition.gov

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Illinois Department of Public Health 

Student Nutrition Fitness Guide

Physical Activity 

Illinois Department of Public Health

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Healthy Living

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Physical Activity

5-2-1-0 is a campaign for county wide health messaging to help prevent and reduce obesity. There are billboards up around the county as well as posters up in the schools and doctors offices. Each number in the campaign stands for a simple healthy behavior that promotes nutrition and physical activity. To lead a healthy active life, families can strive to reach these goals:

5- Five fruits and vegetables per day. Fruits and vegetables contain many nutrients that a child's body needs. Children who eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables per day are significantly less likely to become overweight. Additionally, high fruit and vegetable consumption decreases risk of cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. 

2- No more than two hours of recreational screen time per day.  Children who watch more than two hours of screen time (TV, computer, video games, etc.) per day have double rate of obesity when compared to children who watch less than one hour per day. 

1- One hour of physical activity per day.  This is significant improvement in both physical and mental health when children and teenagers obtain their recommended 60 minutes of physical activity per day. 

0- Zero sugar sweetened beverages. An easy way to help is reduce consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages such as soft drinks, fruit drinks, punches, flavored milks, sports drinks, and flavored coffees. Provide your child fresh fruit instead of juice. Pack water or milk in your child's school lunch instead of a juice box. 

Don't forget that these are excellent recommendations not only for your children, but everyone in the family. To help your children live healthy lives, parents can be role models by making healthy eating and daily physical activity the norm for their family, thus creating a home where healthy choices are available and encouraged.

For more information check out the Accredited Schools Online tips about student nutrition and wellness.