The Surgeon General's Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative

Today, 12.5 million children are overweight in the United States - more than 17 percent. Overweight children are at greater risk for many serious health problems. The Surgeon General's Childhood Overweight and Obesity Prevention Initiative promotes the importance of healthy eating and physical activity at a young age to help prevent overweight and obesity in this country. What Can You Do? Join this effort. Take the Surgeon General's Pledge to help prevent childhood overweight and obesity. Everyone has a role to play - use these action checklists to get started.

Parents and Other Caregivers Checklist: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/parents.html
Schools and Teachers Checklist: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/schools.html
Community Checklist: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/community.html For more information visit, http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/obesityprevention/pledge.html

Disney's Pass the Plate - the Global Spin on Eating Healthy

Have you watched the Disney Channel lately? With three elementary age kids in my house, I don't have much of a choice. That said, I will share I'm a fan of the edu-taining mini-shows that play between the commercials and the real shows. My favorite is Pass the Plate - they call it "the global spin on eating right". Each mini-episode a young person introduces you to their favorite local dish made with a certain fruit or veggie, then they pass the plate to another young person around the world who introduces you to their favorite dish - same vegetable, completely different recipe. It is a great combination of diversity, healthy eating and food prep. If you haven't seen it - check out the website...and great recipes!

http://tv.disney.go.com/disneychannel/passtheplate/

Choose Health Forum Resources

Choose Health Forum Resources: http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/choosehealth.php

Many thanks to all who attended the CCE 4-H Choose Health Volunteer Forum at the White Eagle Conference Center on November 9-10, 2007. And special gratitude for our wonderful presenters. We had a successful event with 91 staff, volunteers and teens attending and looking for more. We promised a few follow-up resources to all participants and believe they would be useful to all Educators promoting a healthy lifestyle. Please visit our new Choose Health website (including the long-awaited Volunteer Forum resources) at: http://nys4h-staff.cce.cornell.edu/choosehealth.php Don't miss the Active Games by Tim Davis, Magic Granola Mix shared as snack, the Friday Night Fitness Station List (ideas to be stolen and used), and the Forum agenda including dynamic presenters praised for the knowledge they shared and the relevance to all who attended the Forum. Celeste has included details about implementing a Produced in NYS Food Contest in your county or district from her workshop with Linda Lunkenheimer. All presenters are encouraged to send resources to Celeste (cjc17@cornell.edu) or Kim (kff2@cornell.edu) to post and share.

Watch Your Step Final Report

“Choose Health” is an initiative of the Cornell Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Program intended to help all of us confront and take action to change the statistics of childhood obesity.

Learning to make healthy choices is at the core of 4-H youth development’s basic values. “Health” is, after all, the 4^th H, following Head, Heart and Hands. 4-H has become a national leader in health-related educational issues, including chemical health, mental and emotional health, foods and nutrition, physical health and safety. After more than 100 years of experience delivering useful and practical healthy lifestyle information to our young people, 4-H continues to embrace the need for healthy lifestyles.

Families today are busier than ever, with more work, school and after school activities and scheduling issues. Couple these things with more sedentary lifestyles and more access to quick, sometimes less healthy meal choices and you can easily understand the reasons for today’s childhood obesity statistics. The goal of the “Watch Your Step” contest was to bring attention to choosing walking as a healthy lifestyle choice.

The contest was first promoted as part of the 4-H Youth Fair from July 26 – 28^th. Twenty teams, and 79 individuals registered for the contest and purchased their pedometers. Team step totals were recorded nightly, and plotted on a chart which was part of a display in Kiwanis Hall. Individuals of all ages participated in the contest – from 5 years old to adult! By the end of the contest, a total of 1,480,000 (that’s ONE MILLION FOUR HUNDRED EIGHTY THOUSAND) steps were recorded. This translated to walking over 740 miles. That means we walked to Atlanta, Georgia!!

This contest accomplished more than we anticipated. It certainly brought “walking” to the attention of everyone at the Fair. The usual greeting between members was, “So, how many steps do you have now?” There was a friendly element of competition between teams – in one instance, a pedometer was found that had over 3,000 steps. The volunteer asked two young fellas how many steps they had – their report was not nearly as much as on the lost pedometer. She mentioned that she just found a pedometer with over 3,000 steps, and suggested that they “step it up” and add some to their total. Off they went, hiking through the trails at 4-H Acres until they could report back that they had exceeded the 3,000 mark! Youth who were working in the Country Kitchen didn’t get the chance to be out walking as much as other 4-H’ers. Youthful ingenuity and a bit of creative talent overcame this challenge when they discovered that if they “bounced” up and down in place, it added to their step total!!

One parent commented that she really liked the fact that this contest included everyone – regardless of age. In fact, younger members tended to be an asset to a team! This contest was also designed so members could participate without being on site. An adult tallied the total steps and called them in to the 4-H Fair office, where a teen recorded their total on the master chart. “Belonging” is one of the essential elements that is central to 4-H programming, and everyone felt as though they were part of a team effort.

As a result of sharing our idea for “Watch Your Step” with a staff person at the NYS 4-H Office, our little idea became part of a state wide initiative. They were so excited about our idea that they implemented a “county challenge” in the Youth Building at the NYS Fair. Sixteen teens and three adults from Tompkins County clipped on their pedometers and counted their steps while they were serving in leadership roles at the NYS Fair, Aug. 27 – 30. We challenged 10 other counties during this time period, and are proud to claim 2^nd place honors! Tompkins County recorded a total of 686,000 steps for the four day period, walking over 343 miles. Research suggests that girls, ages six to twelve, need 12,000 steps per day to achieve a healthy body mass index (BMI). Boys in the same age range require 15,000 steps per day, while the recommended steps for adults is 10,000. The highest daily step total Tompkins County recorded was 31,093 – in one day!! Several 4-Hers walked more than twice the recommended number of steps. Our members now know the number of steps from the Youth Building to the main “attractions” at the Fair.

Governor Spitzer visited the NYS Fair during the time we were there. One of his stops was to the Youth Building where a “Choose Health” fitness trail was being promoted to the public. Tompkins County highlighted the “Watch Your Step Contest” that we promoted at the local level, and all members of our county wore the official yellow “Choose Health” T-shirts. Several members of our delegation met Governor Spitzer, and were able to shake his hand – quite an experience for these members.

This grant made it possible for us to purchase the pedometers, promote the contest, and purchase awards for the top team at the Youth Fair. Each member of the winning team received a “4-H Takes You Places” water bottle, filled with a jump rope, hand weights, and other fitness items. “Choose Health” will be a program priority for Tompkins County 4-H this coming year. This contest brought healthy lifestyles to the forefront of our programming efforts, and members, volunteer leaders, and staff will work to help combat the issue of childhood obesity.

One of our goals for this year is to seek funding to continue to help sponsor fitness trail activities, food preparation projects that will focus on using fresh, locally produced and more healthy recipes, and other recreational activities to keep young people active. We hope this funding will also allow us to turn facts about healthy lifestyles into professionally designed signs to hang at our events and at next year’s 4-H Youth Fair. Some of these facts include:

• It only takes 100 steps a day to lose a pound a year.
• Treat yourself with occasional sweets and high fat foods.
• Eating meals as a family helps everyone to eat more healthfully and to communicate better.
• Eat 5 or more fruits and veggies each day.
• Eat because you are hungry, not for other reasons.
• Play actively for an hour a day – riding bikes, walking, swimming, hiking, or whatever you like.
• Choose water or milk instead of sweetened beverages.
• Research shows that girls, ages 6 – 12, need 12,000 steps per day, and boys in that same age range require 15,000. It is recommended that adults take 10,000 steps per day.

The “Watch Your Step” contest not only helped us focus on walking as a healthy lifestyle choice, but also provided the opportunity for the teens on the 4-H Youth Fair Board to expand their leadership skills. They felt the contest was an overwhelming success, and are proud of their efforts – especially seeing how their idea of a step contest is being promoted at the state level. Even though we haven’t had our first meeting of the new year, I’ve already heard of ideas to improve on the contest for next year. No doubt, “Watch Your Step” will be back!

Thank you very much for your support of this effort. A little “seed” money has helped us focus on a much larger and very serious health issue. We were able to promote physical activity in a fun way, help young people develop their leadership potential, and contribute in positive ways to both NYS and National 4-H initiatives.

Brenda T. Carpenter
4-H Club and Volunteer Coordinator
btc6@cornell.edu

Order Choose Health Pedometers

We've heard that many of you are interested in ordering the Choose Health pedometers featured at Career Ex and the State Fair this year. ADminders will be placing a special bulk order to meet that demand. Like the resource directory mousepads that we recently offered, these will not be held in inventory but a special order will be placed on November 16 or as soon as the minimum order is fulfilled.

To place an order, or for questions - please contact ADminders directly: Falon McNett via email: falon@adminders.com; or by phone: (local) 607-533-7700 / (Toll Free) 877-807-8902

Current Order Deadline: November 16, 2007
Single function pedometer, LCD display, Reset button, Batteries included
4-H clover with "Cornell Cooperative Extension" text underneath, printed in Green.

For pricing information: http://www.adminders.com/?s=CCE&c=11&p=841

Choose Health Update

 
Choose Health made its debut at the New York State Fair as a campaign to help raise public awareness about childhood obesity. Learning to make choices is at the core of 4-H youth development�s basic values.  Health is, after all, the 4^th H, following Head, Heart and Hands. 
 
At the State Fair, the following activities were conducted as a way to engage 4-H participants and fairgoers in simple and fun activities that promoted health:
 

• All youth building 4-H participants were given pedometers on the first day of each four day rotation and challenged to track the steps that they took on a daily basis.  In the end 350 people walked a cumulative total of 5,900 miles over the 12 days of the fair.  70% of all participants walked 10,000 steps or more and 20% walked 15,000 steps or more per day. 
• One day during each time rotation was designated as Choose Health Day.  On these days, Dr. Wendy Wolff from the Division of Nutritional Sciences gave a presentation in the stage area discussing some of the research findings related to childhood obesity, and talked about ways for us to take action.  Nutritious snacks were donated from Cornell Orchards, Crowley Foods and Kraft Foods.  A fitness trail was set up throughout the building with nine stops where youth visiting the building could participate in fun fitness activities.  All who completed the trail were given a nutritious snack and Choose Health t-shirt. 
• President Skorton helped kick off the 4-H Choose Health campaign on Opening Day by joining Barb Schirmer to speak to the news media about the health concerns related to childhood obesity and how programs like Choose Health can make a difference.  Local TV stations, local newspapers, the Cornell Chronicle, and the Associated press all featured stories about Choose Health.
• Educational messages about fitness and healthy eating were displayed throughout the building and on palm cards that were distributed to fairgoers along with Choose Health fans. 
• The 4-H Press Corps featured articles about Choose Health in their newsletters.
• Governor Spitzer visited the building on Child Health Day at the Fair along with the Lieutenant Governor Paterson, Commissioner Richard Danes from the Health Department and Commissioner Pat Hooker from Ag and Markets.  The group was introduced to Choose Health, given pedometers, and participated in a news conference with the 4-H Press Corps to discuss child heath issues. 
• The GPS team developed a fair map that showed the location of places on the fairgrounds where healthier food options were available. 

 
Support for the State Fair promotion came from CCE Extension Administration, NY State Fair, the Division of Nutritional Sciences and the State 4-H Foundation.
 
 What�s Next for 4-H Choose Health?
 

• The 4-H Choose Health Blog will be an ongoing site and will contain research articles, program updates and resources for educators working with healthy lifestyles education. 
• A state wide 4-H Choose Health forum is planned for 4-H Volunteers on November 9 and 10.  Funding to help support this has been secured through a National Grant from the Monsanto Company. 
• A new program is in the process of being developed that will focus on training teens across the state to be 4-H Choose Health Ambassadors.  Teens will be trained to deliver educational programs to middle school students in school and after school programs.  Ambassadors will also be advocates in their communities to promote awareness in their schools.
• Choose Health will be integrated into all aspects of the 4-H Youth Development program with ideas for:  incorporating healthy nutritious snacks in 4-H programs, encouraging more physical activities, promotion of NYS locally grown produce, and boosting curriculum related to healthy lifestyles education. 
• A new Healthy Lifestyles Program Work Team is in the process of being formed with a variety of members representing 4-H and nutrition educators and faculty in the Division of Nutritional Sciences.  This new group welcomes new members and will have it�s first meeting on November 15. 

 

"Choose Health" ideas

We added a new category for our Achievement Night presentations - the "Choose Health" Awards.  Leaders were sent a form asking them to recognize a club member at Achievement Night who had been role model for their club in �choosing health,� either for their self or their club members.  I requested the club to discuss and vote on this recognition and the vote should be reflected in the secretary�s minutes.  At Achievement Night, the nominated members were presented with a "Choose Health" t-shirt.

Also, the New York State 4-H team that went the Northeast Regional Volunteer Forum focusing on Healthy Lifestyles came back with some really neat ideas, some of which they will be presenting at the CCE 4-H Choose Health Volunteer Forum in Madison County in November.  One of the ideas they shared was that West Virginia has a "health officer" in their clubs.

Margo A. Bowerman
Extension Team Coordinator
4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Orleans County
12690 NYS Route 31
Albion, New York 14411
(585) 798-4265 (ext. 32)
fax: (585) 798-5191
http://www.cce.cornell.edu/~orleans/

4-H is a community of young people across America who are learning leadership, citizenship, and life skills.