US preschoolers less pudgy in latest sign of falling obesity

[jpak]

https://www.ksl.com/article/46576492/us-preschoolers-less-pudgy-in-latest-sign-of-falling-obesity

CHICAGO (AP) — Preschoolers on government food aid have grown a little less pudgy, a U.S. study found, offering fresh evidence that previous signs of declining obesity rates weren't a fluke.

Obesity rates dropped steadily to about 14% in 2016 — the latest data available — from 16% in 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported.

<snip>

An earlier report involving program participants the same age found at least small declines in obesity in 18 states between 2008 and 2011. That was the first decline after years of increases that later plateaued, and researchers weren't sure if it was just a blip.

Improvements in food options in that program including adding more fruits, vegetables and whole grains may have contributed to the back-to-back obesity declines, researchers said. Other data show obesity rates in 2016 were stable but similar, about 14 percent, for children aged 2 to 5 who were not enrolled in the program, Blanck noted.

<more>

[riversedge]

1. "The changes are meaningful and substantial."

good news. yes. yes. yes.

Improvements in food options in that program including adding more fruits, vegetables and whole grains may have contributed to the back-to-back obesity declines, researchers said. Other data show obesity rates in 2016 were stable but similar, about 14 percent, for children aged 2 to 5 who were not enrolled in the program, Blanck noted.

While too many U.S. children are still too heavy, the findings should be celebrated, said Dr. William Dietz, a former CDC obesity expert. "The changes are meaningful and substantial."

Dietz said program changes that cut the amount of juice allowed and switched from high-fat to low-fat milk likely had the biggest impact. He estimated that amounted to an average of 9,000 fewer monthly calories per child.

[NewJeffCT]

2. Thanks Obama

Michelle this time

[Hortensis]

3. Lol. I'm remembering the outrage when Michelle suggested

people feed their children salad.

It rivaled their disgust at her serving lunch to the children at the WH Easter egg hunt. All real Americans knew only candy was appropriate.

They were always dreadfully wrong, of course, but so nice to read that they're been on the wrong side of history. This is good news.

Yes, thanks, but above all to those voters who Obama and other Democrats in office.

[tblue37]

4. Remember Sarah Palin bringing sugar cookies to a school to protest Michelle's suggestion that

kids could maybe be given less sugar?

[Hortensis]

5. Lol, I missed that one. Wonder if it gave the school a pang.

Irrational conservative-driven fear has taken over so badly that many schools only allow unopened commercial treats. Those home-baked by parents and kids the night before too dangerous, might be poisoned or have secret peanuts sneaked in.

[tblue37]

6. Article excerpt:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/cookie-protest-sarah-palin-calls-pennsylvania-nanny-state/story?id=12104862

snip

On the proposed regulations, Palin called Pennsylvania a "nanny state run amok." In protest, she brought 200 sugar cookies to a Bucks County school fundraiser Tuesday.

"I had to shake it up a little bit because I heard there is a debate going on in Pennsylvania over whether most schools condemn sweets, cakes, cookies, that type of thing," Palin said. "I brought dozens and dozens of cookies to these students."

Instead, parents would be encouraged to serve healthy snacks, such as fruits or vegetables.

snip

[marybourg]

7. As a person with serious food intolerances,

I agree with that policy. Commercial packaged foods are required to list their ingredients. Home bakers are not. Nor, unless they have family members with serious food issues, do they have the knowledge to do so in a manner that would protect children with food issues.

[Hortensis]

8. I understand where you're coming from, but

I disagree that this is necessary. Our nation is getting mean and suspicious, and that's very bad for us. Children's intolerances these days are listed with schools and teachers, and parents can always be instructed on ingredients not allowed and required to provide lists of ingredients used with the foods.

I worked for years in property and casualty insurance, including in risk management, which gave me a permanent risk assessment orientation. What's real and what's fear out of all proportion to reality? I believe institutionalizing the unbalanced notion that our neighbors are dangerous and untrustworthy encourages meanness and distance. It does our communities real harm with very little benefit, actually none most of the time.

[marybourg]

9. Puleeeeze. People think when they're re asked "white or wheat",

that white bread doesn’t contain wheat. They think “egg substitutes” don’t contain egg. How many people know that licorice contains wheat, or that pepperoni usually contains milk. Personally, having gone to school in the 1940’s and ‘50’s, I see no reason for there to be any snack food in school at all, but if there has to be, children with food allergies and intolerances need to be safe, and amateur home food preparers don’t meet that standard; few restaurant chefs do, and only recently have federal regulations gone some way to seeing to it that packaged food does.

[Hortensis]

10. You make a good argument. One of our grandchildren

has significant intolerances, and it's also handled well in his school.

[marybourg]

11. Thank you, and I'm glad to hear

about your grandchild.

[OnDoutside]

12. My son's primary school has a no egg policy, due to one of the kids having an egg allergy, and has

generally a very good healthy food policy, implementing by Irish Government policy

The following is a guide issued by the Health Service Executive for parents and
teachers on the implementation of a Healthy Eating Policy in the schools. This
policy was drawn up by the Staff and the Parents’ Association.
1. All food and drinks consumed in the school will follow the guidelines
recommended in the food pyramid.
2. One food in the top shelf of the food pyramid e.g. sweets or chocolate, can be
eaten on Fridays.
3. Food from the bottom shelf of the food pyramid (bread, scones, rice, pasta,
crackers, potato, cereals) should be eaten at least once during the school day.
4. Fresh fruit is encouraged as part of the food eaten at school.
5. Wrappers from food eaten in the school and any uneaten food must be placed in
the children’s lunchboxes.
6. Drinks of water preferable. No fizzy drinks allowed.
7. Please read the sugar content of many so called healthy products. e.g. cereal
bars etc....

Their teachers regularly check their lunchboxes to make sure this is adhered to.