S.D. Gives Its Schools Measuring Equipment To Track Child Obesity
PIERRE (AP) -- Measuring boards and scales have been awarded to schools across the state as a way to help track child obesity, the South Dakota Department of Health said in a release.
This year, the department is giving 31 measuring boards and 30 scales to 33 schools, bringing to 532 the total of scales or measuring boards awarded to keep track of students' height and weight -- and take part in a state survey.
"Weve made a concerted effort these past few years to get schools the equipment they need to monitor student height and weight," said Kristin Biskeborn, state nutritionist for the department. "The data can help schools improve physical activity and healthy eating by their students and it also gives us a more complete picture of child obesity in South Dakota."
Schools have been turning in student height and weight for the annual survey since 1999. The release says 229 schools, with an enrollment of almost 27 percent of students in the state, submitted data for the 2004-2005 report.
That report says 33 percent of South Dakota students were overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
In exchange for the equipment, schools are asked to submit student height and weight data for three years, the Department of Health said.
On the Net:
http://www.state.sd.us/doh/SchoolWeight/ Childhood Obesity in South Dakota