OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI

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moving forward - Policy InitiativesPolicy Initiative No. 5Improve State Standards forDay Care Centers & Youth Programsto Promote Healthy LifestylesThe NationalAssociationfor Sportand PhysicalEducationrecommendsthat toddlersget at least30 minutesof structuredphysicalactivity eachday as well asan additionalhour ormore ofunstructuredphysicalactivity. Theyalso statethat toddlersshould notbe sedentaryfor more than60 minutesat a timeexcept whensleeping.THE CHALLENGENational research suggests that approximately one-fourth of 2- to5-year-old children are obese or overweight. In Mississippi, researchconducted by the University of Southern Mississippi showed that morethan one-third of 3- and 4-year-olds and almost half of 5-year-oldsin Head Start programs were obese or overweight. For many preschoolchildren in day care centers and youth programs, there are no dietaryrules or policies, whereas the food children eat in kindergarten through12th grade in public school is regulated for fat and salt content, amongother things. Currently, an estimated 97,741 Mississippi children areenrolled in day care centers, and approximately 77,603 of these childrenare 5 years of age or younger. There are 1,720 current day care centersthroughout the state with a combined maximum enrollment of 135,567.Standards regarding nutrition and physical activity for children atday care centers and youth programs can offer a healthy environmentthroughout the day, and can encourage families to adopt healthierbehaviors when children are at home.NATIONAL SUCCESSA great example of an incentiveprogram for day cares topromote healthy lifestyles andmeet recommended standardsmight be the state of Tennessee’s“Gold Sneaker Initiative.” Thisprogram is sponsored by theNational Governors Associationwith funds from the RobertWood Johnson Foundation.The purpose of the programis to enhance policy related tophysical activity and nutritionwithin licensed child carefacilities across Tennesseewith the intent of buildinglifelong skills for healthy living.The Gold Sneaker Initiativeencourages child care providersfrom both the private and publicsectors to voluntarily adoptphysical activity and nutritionpolicies established through thestate licensing program.The policies promoted under theGold Sneaker Initiative includetime allotments for physicalactivity, limits on sedentaryactivities, guidelines regardinginfant and child feeding patterns,and limits on using food, candy,or drink as a child’s reward.Facilities are rewarded withcertificates of achievement andprominent displays of theiraccomplishments, establishingthem as a Gold SneakerInitiative certified facility.26
A project funded by the POWER initiativeStaff attitude toward theenhanced policy implementationand maintenance of knowledgeis assessed through a follow upvisit. Day care facilities with ahigh rate of unsatisfied staff andthose facilities whose staff mayhave shown a lack of knowledgeregarding the enhanced policyimplementation are identifiedand targeted by the Child CareResource & Referral Networkfor additional assistance toensure the facility’s success.Accountability of the GoldSneaker Initiative is assuredthrough monitoring; theDepartment of Health performssite visits on at least 20 percentof all Gold Sneaker child carefacilities annually.<strong>MISSISSIPPI</strong>’S SUCCESSThe Mississippi StateDepartment of Health realizedthat to fight the obesity issue,it needed to start with youngchildren. The department wasable to secure 150 free ColorMe Healthy toolkits, to usewith preschools. Designed toengage children through all fivesenses, the Color Me Healthyprogram contains lesson plansto be used by teachers, alongwith posters, stamps, games,music, and songs for lessonsand activity times. The toolkitalso has newsletters providingparents with kid-friendly recipesand tips on nutrition andphysical activity. The ChildcareLicensure Division has beenable to distribute these toolkitsto facilities throughout the stateduring a four-hour training class.Menu Writing 101 is a threehourclass offered throughMississippi’s ChildcareLicensure Division that isdesigned to help preschoolfacilities improve the qualityof meals without adding costs.During the class, licensureregulations are reviewed, pastmenus are modified for healthiermeal options, and participantsengage in group discussionsto plan several days of menusincorporating healthy fooditems that they may have notused in the past.The Color Me Healthy programand the Childcare LicensureDivisions classes, have reachedmore than 150 childcare centersacoss the state.1,000is the total number ofcalories a toddler shouldconsume daily.One medium chocolate chipcookie can easily contain50 calories or more.27
Page 1 and 2: OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPIa report comp
Page 3 and 4: TABLE OF CONTENTS4 | Introduction &
Page 5 and 6: Finding an AnswerOverweight adolesc
Page 7 and 8: A GROWING PROBLEMNationally, childh
Page 9 and 10: What is Mississippi Doing?Thanks to
Page 11 and 12: A project funded by the POWER initi
Page 15 and 16: Moving forwardWith the measurements
Page 25: A project funded by the POWER initi
Page 39 and 40: SEEKING ACTIONEach of Mississippi
Page 41 and 42: A project funded by the POWER grant
Page 48: Report compiled by theMississippi D

OBESITY IN MISSISSIPPI

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