Our sources of information!

Fibkins, W. L. (2006). Teen obesity : how schools can be the number one solution to the problem. Lanham, Md : Rowman & Littlefield Education.

Telljohann, Susan K. Et al (2004) Health Education: elementary and middle school applications. Boston: McGraw-Hill.

Utter, J. (2008) Lifestyle and Obesity in South Pacific Youth: baseline results from the Pacific Obesity Prevention in Communities. (OPIC) project in New Zealand, Fiji, Tonga and Australia.

Welcome to our blog! We are postgrad students and blogging about unhealthy eating in schools in New Zealand and how as teachers we can model and teach about making good choices when it comes to eating.

The latest episode of our show!

Introduction: How do we define obesity?

Obesity is an "excessive accumulation of body fat that results in individuals being at least 20% heavier than their ideal body weight. Overweight is defined as any weight in excess of the ideal range." (Fibkins, 2006)

What do you think are the contributing factors to childhood obesity?

Some interesting statistics

"Overweight and obesity are the 7th leading predicted cause of avoidable global disease burden of 2010 and 2020" (WHO, 2002). Of major concern is the fact that the Pacific region has some of the highest rates of obesity in the world. Although there has been some interventionist research into obesity in primary aged children, the positive results have been short term and modest. Much effective and sustained intervention is required to make a lasting effect (Utter et al., 2008).

Recent research data for students in New Zealand aged 12 - 18 years old:

• 26% female and 28% males were obese

• 32% females and 31% males were overweight

Food and nutrition behaviours identified:

• More than 15% of students in NZ said they do not usually eat breakfast
• The school canteen/tuckshop was the primary source of lunch for nearly a half of NZ students
• Nearly 20% of students eat takeaways more than twice per week
• +- 30% of students in Fiji, NZ and Tonga drank soft drinks on 4 or 5 days in the past 5 school days
• About 40% of students in NZ watched TV for 2 or more hours per day
• On average nearly 50% of students have potato crisps available to eat at home most of the time
  

Is there a link between unhealthy eating and school performance?

Research has shown that there is an indirect link between healthy eating and school performance. Young obese children were found to have lower maths and reading scores and in adolescents, lower performance has been reflected in their grades (Hildenbrandt, 2010).

Education advocates would be wise to examine the extensive body of literature confirming the impact of poor nutritional health on academic achievement. Researchers have asserted that when children go hungry undernourished they tend to be irritable and be apathetic. In addition can have too much energy and therefore difficulty in concentrating (Telljohan et al., 2004)

How can teachers help prevent the growth in the habit of unhealthy eating in children?

The question is... can they?

Schools as a whole should provide the opportunity for structured physical activity everyday for its' students. Secondly it can increase the healthiness of the food sold in the school canteen . In fact, fewer than 30% of students felt that food and drinks available in their school canteen are unhealthy (Utter, et al., 2008).

Teachers as role models:

In Utter et al's (2008) research they found that more than 50% of students felt that teachers were good role models. We feel that teachers need to use this position in a positive way, by considering the type of role model they want to be in terms of exhibiting healthy eating habits. We are in a powerful position to influence our children in positive ways and to sow the seeds for making healthy choices in their lives.

Please share your tips for teachers with us!