Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Senator Harkin, Burlington, Iowa Students Lead the Charge to Reverse Childhood Obesity
Harkin authored national program that makes fresh fruits and vegetables available to Iowa kids
U.S. Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today led a rally with Burlington’s Oak Street Middle School students Katherine Milani and Julian Swayzer, and health teacher Betsy DeBower, to reverse childhood obesity and encourage healthy lifestyles. Oak Street participates, along with 24 schools nationwide, in the Healthy Schools Program supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF), which works to improve access to healthier foods, increase opportunities for physical activity and establish school wellness programs.
Harkin praised the school kids for coming to Capitol Hill so that Senators could hear directly from them about the importance of proper nutrition and physical activity and for sharing the creative things they are doing in school to help kids stay healthy and happy.
"Oak Street Middle School is an image of success, implementing major changes not only in the cafeteria but also in the community’s consciousness that will lead to better health and wellness. And you kids ’get it.’ You are doing the right things to stay healthy yourselves. And you are fighting to make things better for all the other kids in America," said Harkin at the rally. "I also want to commend Betsy DeBower and Oak Street’s faculty for putting into practice a healthy learning environment for kids and also taking it upon themselves to develop and stick to an onsite weight loss program. They are setting a fantastic example for Burlington kids and I hope that other Iowa schools will follow their lead."
Oak Street Middle School has executed several key changes including eliminating all fried foods; transitioning to baked items, including baked french fries; and offering at least two fresh fruits and vegetables at lunch, and at least one at breakfast. Oak Street’s faculty and staff also pay more attention to students identified as needing more tutoring, physical activity or social skills through a program created to combine an hour of tutoring with an additional hour of physical activity and a nutritious snack. The school has also developed an on-site individual weight loss program for faculty and staff where they can exchange weight loss tips and motivate each other to get more physical activity.
According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, only 14 percent of kids today eat the recommended daily amount of fruits and only 20 percent eat the daily recommended number of vegetables. To address this issue, in the 2002 farm bill, Harkin authored the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program to give elementary and secondary school children access to fresh produce throughout the day.
"Iowa kids are making healthy eating choices by reaching for that apple or carrot rather than the bag of chips or candy bar. Through these small decisions they can all enjoy healthier, happier and longer lives," continued Harkin.
Today 25 Iowa schools take part in the program, giving 12,000 Iowa school kids access to nutritious produce. Nationwide, the program has expanded to serve students in 14 states plus three Indian Tribal Organizations. A provision in the Senate-passed farm bill, which is currently in conference committee, would expand the program to as many as 65,000 Iowa students and 4.5 million students nationwide.
