Kittery fights student obesity
By Beth LaMontagne
blamontagne@seacoastonline.com
Complete Maine News Index
KITTERY, Maine -- According to a recent school department study, more than one-third of the town's students are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.
Health coordinator Alethea Cariddi said the district has always monitored students' height and weight from kindergarten through 12th grade, but for the past four years, she has also charted students' body mass index. This figure has been added to the annual student exam to estimate the children's body fat based on height and weight.
To determine whether a child falls into the healthy or overweight categories, Cariddi said the district uses the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey standards. Children who are heavier than 84 percent to 94 percent of the kids their age are considered at risk for being overweight, while children who weigh more than 95 percent of the kids their age are considered overweight.
"There's a lot that we are doing, and there's more we could be doing," Cariddi said. At all of the town's schools, students learn about nutrition, getting exercise and staying healthy. There is also an effort ... to reduce the amount of junk food served at lunch.
Last year, the town passed a local wellness policy, which encourages physical activities throughout the day and implements a "healthy party policy," which asks parents to send in fruits and veggies, not just cupcakes and soda.
Cariddi said the study shows middle school can be a difficult time because children's bodies are changing so quickly. She also noted weight issues do not always develop later but that some children are entering the school system overweight or at risk. In 2006, 32 percent of kindergartners were at risk or overweight. Last year, 44 percent of kindergartners fell into this category.
"It is very difficult for kids to get all this (good nutrition) information and then eat a dinner that they don't have control over," said Cariddi.
That is why the school department is reaching out to parents to give them more information about healthy eating habits. It is offering free sessions with nutritionist Lisa Dinsmore the last Wednesday of each month.
Cariddi said these sessions have already provided parents with tools and strategies for better eating.
The November session was about how to feed a picky eater. The next session, in January, will be about how to cook nutritious foods on a budget.
Childhood Obesity Fight