New Jersey High School Wins Gold for Fight Against Obesity
By Deborah Huso
While politicians and special interest groups argue about how to address the childhood obesity problem and stem the health-care costs associated with weight-related illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, one New Jersey high school is doing something about the crisis.
This week, Memorial High School in West New York, N.J., received the Gold National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for doing more to promote healthy eating and lifestyle choices among staff and students than any other school in the United States. Over the last four years, the high school has overhauled its cafeteria menu; made physical fitness a priority for all students, faculty [faculty racing team pictured, left] and staff; and, most importantly, made the choice to live healthy an easy one to make.
"We took the thinking and hassle out of being fit," says John Fraraccio, West New York district supervisor of Health and Physical Education. "We made it convenient."
One of more than 9,000 member schools in the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program, Memorial High was a pilot school for the program supported by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation.
In 2006, the school launched its new healthy lifestyle initiative by first changing the makeup of school meals. Fraraccio says the process started by accident when the school's fryer broke down one day, leading cafeteria staff to start baking French fries. Now the cafeteria not only chooses baking over frying but also offers whole wheat buns, whole wheat pizza dough and a ready-to-order salad bar. Neither sodas nor high-sugar drinks are available for consumption or purchase in the cafeteria.
While Memorial High has long made physical education and health classes mandatory for all grades, the school also started making its fitness center available for staff and student use both before and after school. There is also a teacher who is a personal trainer available to assist students in meeting their fitness goals. Memorial High School also offers a boot camp program and on-site Weight Watchers meetings for faculty and provides yoga classes to both students and teachers.
Nearly 1 in 3 American children is overweight or obese. In February, First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled her Let's Move! partnership bringing together schools, parents, businesses and nonprofits to battle the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.
Do you have a question for Michelle about her plan? You can ask her on Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. Eastern time during her first-ever live web chat right here on AOL Health. The first lady will be discussing the newly enhanced Let's Move! website and answering your questions live! To submit a question, send an email to askmichelleobama@aol.com (please include your name and town) between now until Monday, July 12th at 10:00 a.m.
So how did Memorial High get students, parents and teachers to buy in?
According to Fraraccio, it wasn't hard at all.
"We haven't had to encourage," he says. "People want to be healthy."
By making nutritious foods and physical fitness available and easy to access, Fraraccio says the school has made it simple for everyone to choose a healthy lifestyle.
"It's been a total culture change here," he adds.
Fraraccio credits many of the school's staff members with helping to forward the program.
"It's been a grassroots movement," he explains, "and it's been a small investment monetarily."
The school, which serves about 1,600 mostly Hispanic students, has spent only about $30,000 over the course of the last four years to bring healthier food and fitness choices to Memorial High.
"Memorial is a better place to be today," says Fraraccio. "It starts with the adults. If adults are thinking about health, it filters down to the kids."
The West New York school district, as a whole, doesn't plan to slow down, either. Fraraccio says the school system is working to bring the same health mentality to every school in the district, starting with pre-K students.
"Our long-term goal is to get kids to make healthier choices outside the building," he says.
By Deborah Huso
While politicians and special interest groups argue about how to address the childhood obesity problem and stem the health-care costs associated with weight-related illnesses like diabetes and heart disease, one New Jersey high school is doing something about the crisis.
This week, Memorial High School in West New York, N.J., received the Gold National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation for doing more to promote healthy eating and lifestyle choices among staff and students than any other school in the United States. Over the last four years, the high school has overhauled its cafeteria menu; made physical fitness a priority for all students, faculty [faculty racing team pictured, left] and staff; and, most importantly, made the choice to live healthy an easy one to make.
"We took the thinking and hassle out of being fit," says John Fraraccio, West New York district supervisor of Health and Physical Education. "We made it convenient."
One of more than 9,000 member schools in the Alliance's Healthy Schools Program, Memorial High was a pilot school for the program supported by the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation.
In 2006, the school launched its new healthy lifestyle initiative by first changing the makeup of school meals. Fraraccio says the process started by accident when the school's fryer broke down one day, leading cafeteria staff to start baking French fries. Now the cafeteria not only chooses baking over frying but also offers whole wheat buns, whole wheat pizza dough and a ready-to-order salad bar. Neither sodas nor high-sugar drinks are available for consumption or purchase in the cafeteria.
While Memorial High has long made physical education and health classes mandatory for all grades, the school also started making its fitness center available for staff and student use both before and after school. There is also a teacher who is a personal trainer available to assist students in meeting their fitness goals. Memorial High School also offers a boot camp program and on-site Weight Watchers meetings for faculty and provides yoga classes to both students and teachers.
Nearly 1 in 3 American children is overweight or obese. In February, First Lady Michelle Obama unveiled her Let's Move! partnership bringing together schools, parents, businesses and nonprofits to battle the growing epidemic of childhood obesity.
Do you have a question for Michelle about her plan? You can ask her on Tuesday, July 13 at 10 a.m. Eastern time during her first-ever live web chat right here on AOL Health. The first lady will be discussing the newly enhanced Let's Move! website and answering your questions live! To submit a question, send an email to askmichelleobama@aol.com (please include your name and town) between now until Monday, July 12th at 10:00 a.m.
So how did Memorial High get students, parents and teachers to buy in?
According to Fraraccio, it wasn't hard at all.
"We haven't had to encourage," he says. "People want to be healthy."
By making nutritious foods and physical fitness available and easy to access, Fraraccio says the school has made it simple for everyone to choose a healthy lifestyle.
"It's been a total culture change here," he adds.
Fraraccio credits many of the school's staff members with helping to forward the program.
"It's been a grassroots movement," he explains, "and it's been a small investment monetarily."
The school, which serves about 1,600 mostly Hispanic students, has spent only about $30,000 over the course of the last four years to bring healthier food and fitness choices to Memorial High.
"Memorial is a better place to be today," says Fraraccio. "It starts with the adults. If adults are thinking about health, it filters down to the kids."
The West New York school district, as a whole, doesn't plan to slow down, either. Fraraccio says the school system is working to bring the same health mentality to every school in the district, starting with pre-K students.
"Our long-term goal is to get kids to make healthier choices outside the building," he says.
Labels: dieting, healthy children, healthy food, obesity in children, school, students
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