Kids – ‘Go for your life’ Primary school award program
Kids – ‘Go for your life’ is leading the way to a healthier Victoria in which children enjoy healthy
eating and physical activity everyday
Kids – ‘Go for your life’
Key health messagesIncrease water consumption
Increase fruit and vegetable consumption
Reduce consumption of energy dense food and drinks
Key health messagesIncrease time spent in physical activity
Reduce time spent in sedentary activity
Increase the number of children walking and riding to school
Reasons for action
• On average, children are spending 2.5 hours watching TV per day
• Twice the amount of time is spent in ‘screen time’ than physical activity
• There is a high rate of drop-out from physical activity in late primary school
• Fewer children are walking and riding to school - 1970’s (80%), 1990s (10%)
Children’s Health Report
Children’s Health Report• Almost 60% of boys and 40% of
girls have more than one high sugar drink per day
• Less than a quarter of children eat enough vegetables
• 30-40% don’t eat enough fruit
• More than half of children have twice the recommended daily intake of high fat, high sugar foods and drinks in their lunchbox
Children’s Health Report
• One in four 7- 10 year olds have dieted to lose weight
• Fifty percent of 11 year olds want to weigh less
• Between 47- 74% of 10-12 year olds reported varying levels of body image dissatisfaction over a nine month period
Consequences of unhealthy lifestyles
Overweight in childhood
Obese in childhood
Weight in the classroom – 60’s & 70’s
Overweight in childhood
Obese in childhood
Weight in the classroom – today
In our school?
• Do we think these overweight and obesity rates apply to our school or classrooms?
• Do we see unhealthy habits in our students?
• Do we see dieting practices?
A generation’s future…Childhood
Problem free?
Adulthood
Obese & Overweight as adults
Why prevent childhood obesity? Childhood obesity is associated with:• Bullying and social isolation
• Poor academic outcomes
• Low self esteem & poor body image
• Depression, suicide and risk taking behaviour in adolescence & adulthood
• Physical discomfort & medical problems such as high cholesterol, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance, high blood pressure
Why prevent adult overweight?
Overweight is now the leading cause of
premature death and disease burden in Australia, ahead of tobacco smoking
Is dieting the answer?
1. Obesity2. Asthma
Top 3 chronic illnesses for adolescent girls
3. Eating disorders
Make it:
•Positive•Normal•Easy
Promoting healthy habits
Promoting the Benefits • Brain Power
– Improved concentration
– Improved academic outcomes
• Feeling good– Improved mood and
behaviour– Better self esteem– Making friends
• Growing strong• Healthy teeth and bones• Growth and development• Healthy weight
• Running Smooth• Increased fitness• Energy to play• Reduced constipation
• Staying Well• Long term health
Kids ‘Go - for your life’ Award Program
Health Promoting Schools Model
Healthy school policies
Physical environment
Community & Health Service
links
Partnerships with families
Social environment
Knowledge skills and behaviours
Kids – ‘Go for your life Award Program
Benefits of the program• Recognises school’s achievements
• Motivates school community
• Whole of school approach
• Simple framework for planning and action
• Coordinates school health initiatives and requirements(VELS, PE mandate, canteen requirements)
How to earn icons• Examples of meeting Award Criteria include:
– Health and physical education programs
– Water bottles– Fresh fruit and veg breaks in class– Healthier canteen and lunch orders
choices – Play equipment available at playtimes – Ways to make it easier for children to
walk and ride to school
Program Support• Starter Pack and CD Rom, posters, handouts• Parents, teacher and student
– Facts sheets, tip sheets and newsletter inserts– Presentations– Fun n Healthy ideas
• Curriculum resources and professional development• Sample policies and action plans• Links to local support health professional support (where
available)
Discussion Points• Does our school have a commitment to healthy eating and physical
activity?
• What are key healthy eating or physical activity concerns for the school? Which of the icon stickers should the school try to achieve first?
• Is everyone on board to make sustainable changes?
• How can school community members support healthy eating and physical activity habits?
• What’s next?
Thank you to The Seesaw Project for contribution of resources for this presentation
Kids – ‘Go for your life’www.goforyourlife.vic.gov.au/kids1300 854 554