Kids in Saskatchewan are in
rough shape, according to a recent Heart and Stroke Foundation
of Canada survey. A whopping 69% of them are physically
inactive, and 54% are overweight or obese.
Saskatchewanians haven't been taking
these woeful stats lying down. The Saskatoon Health
Region (SHR) has been leading the crusade by tackling
expanding young waistlines on two fronts: food and fitness.
LUNCHBOX
OVERHAUL
This past May, SHR, in partnership with local school
boards, the University of Saskatchewan and the city's
Child Hunger and Education Program (CHEP), launched
a program called Nutrition Positive aimed at providing
a healthy food environment in schools. Schools involved
in the program are doing things like coming up with
alternatives to hot dog day and providing healthy snack
foods to kids at cost. Free breakfasts and lunches funded
by CHEP are offered to needier kids. Nutrition Positive
also tries to steer youngsters away from fatty snacks
and sugary drinks. They got a big boost when Coke and
Pepsi announced that, starting in September, they'll
remove their soft drinks from vending machines in Canadian
elementary and junior high schools.
KIDS
(AND DOCS) IN MOTION
SHR also has an ongoing physical activity program called
In Motion, which has been working with Saskatchewan
physicians to implement an initiative called Physician-based
Assessment and Counselling on Exercise (PACE) Canada.
The program is an adaptation of the long-running American
Project PACE and provides family physicians with the
tools to 'prescribe' physical activity to their patients.
"As a physician, I find both the
In Motion campaign and my involvement in PACE to be
a valuable asset to both myself and my patients," says
Saskatoon family physician Dr Paula Schwaan.
There are already signs that the
program's working, including anecdotal evidence of improvement
in students' academic performance. "In Motion schools
guarantee 30 minutes of exercise a day," says program
coordinator Don Ratcliffe-Smith. "Some schools start
the day with a walk. The kids like it, and principals
say discipline problems have decreased."
Dr Schwann urges other docs to
likewise make fitness a part of their primary care routine.
"In providing good preventative healthcare to our patients,
it's imperative that we drive home the need to maintain
physical fitness and promote regular physical activity
as a necessary part of people's lives," she says.
Further info: PACE Canada: www.pace-canada.org;
In Motion: www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca
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