Childhood Obesity: A Policy Perspective

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1 Leadership for Healthy Communities Advancing Policies to Support Healthy Eating and Active Living Childhood Obesity: A Policy Perspective Elizabeth Hinman elizabeth@leadershipforhealthycommunities.org

2 Context The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) is committed to reversing the childhood obesity epidemic by Their strategy is to change public policies, school and neighborhood settings and corporate practices in ways that make our communities healthier, with a particular focus on increasing access to healthy affordable foods and opportunities for physical activity.

3 Vision Leadership for Healthy Communities envisions a nation where state, local and tribal government leaders advance policies that improve healthy eating and active living opportunities for children at greatest risk of obesity.

4 Childhood Obesity and The Need for Action

5 Nearly 1 in 3 children and adolescents in the U.S. is obese or overweight. Prevalence

6 Prevalence Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 1985 No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19% 20% 24% 25% 29% 30% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

7 Prevalence Obesity Trends* Among U.S. Adults BRFSS, 2009 No Data <10% 10% 14% 15% 19% 20% 24% 25% 29% 30% Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, CDC.

8 Obese children have an increased risk of: Type 2 diabetes Cardiovascular disease Asthma Sleep disordered breathing Depression Social Costs

9 Social Costs Obese children are: More likely to be bullied or rejected by their peers Absent from school significantly more than averageweight children

10 Effects of the Epidemic Today s children may be the first generation to live sicker and die younger than their parents generation.

absenteeism and loss of worker productivity.

11 Effects of the Epidemic Employers lose roughly $73 billion per year to obesity-related costs in health care services, absenteeism and loss of worker productivity. We could spend $344 billion in obesity-related heath care costs in 2018

12 Race, Ethnicity, Income & Geographic Disparities African-Americans Latinos American Indians Low-income populations Residents in the Southeast region of the United States Rural residents

13 Policymakers Have a Role to Play Barriers exist that limit residents abilities to access healthy foods and engage in safe physical activity. Policymakers like you can pass policies to remove these barriers and provide access to the tools that help people live healthy lives.

chances to be active while there. Only 3.

14 Environmental Barriers to Physical Activity Kids spend hours a day in school, but they aren t getting enough chances to be active while there. Only 3.8% of elementary schools provided daily physical education or an equivalent in 2006.

Communities with high levels of poverty are less

15 Environmental Barriers to Physical Activity Kids need safe places to play in their neighborhoods. Communities with high levels of poverty are less likely to have parks, green spaces and bicycle paths and lanes.

16 Kids need safe sidewalks and bike trails in order to walk to school and local playgrounds. in Only 16% percent of school-aged children walked or biked to school in Environmental Barriers to Physical Activity

17 Environmental Barriers to Accessing Healthy Foods In some communities, parents aren t able to purchase healthy foods because they don t have access to a local supermarket.

18 Environmental Barriers to Accessing Healthy Foods The foods offered to kids in schools has an impact on their overall diets. Up to 50% of total daily energy intake can be consumed at school.

19 Policy Approaches to Address Healthy Eating and Active Living

20 Active Transportation Make Roads and Paths Safer for Bicyclists and Pedestrians Develop long-term plans with explicit active transportation goals. Implement Complete Streets programs. Expand Bicycle Lane and Trail Connections Ensure sidewalk continuity and direct routes for pedestrians and bicyclists. Climate Co-Benefit: Fewer Cars = Decreased Carbon Emissions.

Land Use for Active Living Re-Evaluate Urban

21 Land Use for Active Living Re-Evaluate Urban Design and Land-Use Plans Develop mixed-use retail and residential areas within walking distance of transit. Economic Co- Benefit: Pedestrians and bicyclists shop and spend more per customer than drivers. Photo Credit: Michael McIver

Open Spaces, Parks and Recreation Increase Access to Recreation Facilities and Open Spaces Build new recreation facilities along trails or public transit

22 Open Spaces, Parks and Recreation Increase Access to Recreation Facilities and Open Spaces Build new recreation facilities along trails or public transit routes. Create, maintain or renovate open spaces & parks near residents homes. Climate Co-Benefit: Green spaces help capture carbon and greenhouse emissions.

Offer at Least 30 Minutes of Quality Physical Activity Daily Require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all

23 Quality Physical Activity In and Near Schools Education Co-Benefit: 15 to 30 minutes of daily physical activity can improve academic focus and classroom behavior. Offer at Least 30 Minutes of Quality Physical Activity Daily Require 30 minutes of daily physical activity for all students in all grade levels. Integrate physical activity into educational settings and allow for recess breaks. Ensure funding to build and maintain gyms, playgrounds and fields.

24 Quality Physical Activity In and Near Schools (cont.) Support walking school bus and Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Programs Adopt a comprehensive and sustainable SRTS program that allows for safe, walkable sidewalks 24/7. Support walking school buses to safely escort children as they walk school. Facilitate Joint-Use Agreements Establish agreements to make school and community facilities accessible for physical activity outside of regular hours.

Quality Nutrition in Schools Ensure That Students Have Appealing, Healthy Food and Beverage Choices In Schools Improve the quality of school meals Limit the availability of low-nutrient, energy-dense

25 Quality Nutrition in Schools Ensure That Students Have Appealing, Healthy Food and Beverage Choices In Schools Improve the quality of school meals Limit the availability of low-nutrient, energy-dense foods on school grounds. Include nutrition education in school curricula. Education Co-Benefit: Students who consume higher amounts of fruits and vegetables with a lower calorie intake from fat are more likely to perform better on reading tasks.

Encourage farmers markets to accept WIC and SNAP benefits.

26 Farm-Fresh Local Foods Support Farmers Markets Provide incentives, grants and subsidies to farmers market organizers. Encourage farmers markets to accept WIC and SNAP benefits. Support Community Gardens Convert neglected areas into community gardens or provide community garden grants and staff support.

Food and Beverage Marketing Regulate the Marketing of Unhealthy Food In or Near Schools and Other Youth Facilities Prohibit the marketing and sale of unhealthy foods in vending machines in youth

27 Food and Beverage Marketing Regulate the Marketing of Unhealthy Food In or Near Schools and Other Youth Facilities Prohibit the marketing and sale of unhealthy foods in vending machines in youth centers, school facilities and parks department facilities. Prohibit all advertisements, ban all food and beverage advertisements or forbid the marketing of products that are not permitted to be sold on campus. Set nutrition standards for children s meals that include a toy. Photo Credit: Center for Science in the Public Interest

28 Leadership for Healthy Communities For Resources and More Information Visit: Follow us on Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/lhcommunities

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Leadership for Healthy Communities A 10 Year Retrospective Dr. Kristen Welker-Hood November 15, 2014 About Us Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC) is a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation