Orange County Grand Jury • 2003-2004

Hildhood and Dolescent Besity

Published: June 08, 2004 17 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 9 findings

F1
State Senate Bill 19, partly amended by the California Childhood Obesity Prevention Act, authorized school districts to establish a Child Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee to help coordinate functions and activities that address students’ obesity problems.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Each Orange County school district establish a Child Nutrition and Physical Activity Committee to help coordinate functions and activities that address students’ obesity problems. (Finding 1)
F2
All food and beverages prepared by school food services in Orange County schools, or supplied under contract by outside vendors and served on the school campuses, are regulated by federal and state requirements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
School districts in Orange County continue to ensure that food and beverages served on school campuses meet federal and state requirements. (Finding 2)
F3
A study in Poway has shown that the greatest improvement in the physical fitness of students occurred when the physical education program was supervised by a Physical Education Specialist.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Orange County school districts appoint nutrition and physical education specialists who can train classroom teachers in the essentials of their specialties. (Finding 3)
F4
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District, under the guidance of competent nutritional specialists, has developed menus of healthful food that the students are eager to purchase and consume.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Newport-Mesa Unified School District continue to offer healthful school meals that are appealing and appetizing to the student population, and offer guidance on menu planning to other school districts that request assistance. (Finding 4)
F5
Various government grants are available to the schools to help finance and improve the schools’ nutrition and physical education programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Orange County school districts apply for state and federal grants available for improving physical education and nutrition programs. (Finding 5)
F6
Most school districts, faced with budgetary cuts and greater priority on higher academic standards, have gradually decreased their emphasis on physical education.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Orange County school districts make available their playgrounds and outdoor facilities before and after school hours for their students under the supervision of interested faculty members and parents. (Finding 6)
F7
Food items provided by the schools’ food services are not labeled with their caloric values and nutritional composition; nor is such information posted in the food-serving area.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Orange County school districts ensure that either food items sold on their campuses be labeled with the caloric values and nutritional composition or that such information be posted in the food-serving areas. (Finding 7) 13
F8
Body Mass Index is not fully utilized as an assessment tool by schools’ nutrition and physical education programs, but is used as appropriate by school nurses for clinical purposes.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Orange County school districts incorporate instruction on the Body Mass Index into the nutrition and physical education programs and encourage students to share this information with their families. (Finding 8)
F9
Santa Ana Unified School District has instituted a nutrition counseling and education program to teach healthful eating habits to students and their parents. Responses to Findings 1, 2, 3 and 5 through 8 are requested from the Superintendents of Schools of all school districts in Orange County. A response to Finding 4 is requested from the Superintendent of the Newport- Mesa Unified School District. A response to Finding 9 is requested from the Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Santa Ana Unified School District expand its nutrition counseling and education program to all grades, and offer guidance on replicating this program to other school districts that request assistance. (Finding 9) Responses to Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 5 through 8 are requested from the Superintendents of Schools of all school districts in Orange County. A response to Recommendation 4 is requested from the Superintendent of the Newport-Mesa Unified School District. A response to Recommendation 9 is requested from the Superintendent of the Santa Ana Unified School District.

Commendations 23

Agency Responses 23

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.