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School health report card lists high and low marks
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Posted on Feb 11 1999
The health report card of the school children in the CNMI is saying good and bad things about the eating habits of the future generation.
During the Food and Nutrition Council Conference held yesterday, Medical Director Dr. Jon Bruss showed figures supporting that children are both drinking soft drink and milk.
His study recorded close to 40 percent of children ages 8 to 13 years old are taking sodas daily. However, over 40 percent are drinking their milk each day.
The same report also recorded 20 percent of the group rarely drink their milk.
Dr. Bruss expressed concern over this last figure since milk is the primary source of calcium.
In addition, children are taking frequently spam, spare ribs, juice, fruits or a mixture of healthy and rich selection of food.
“Overweight and obesity are prevalent,” he told the audience. His records showed that children by ethnicity exhibit certain weight problems. For instance, children of both Carolinian parents are more likely to develop overweight problems.
“There maybe some cultural things that we need to address,” he said.
The School-based Nutrition and Physical Activity Partnership Program of the Public School System offers help to children.
According to Tina Goodwin of PSS, meals served in schools provide children with healthy choices for breakfast and lunch.
Related programs implemented in schools also emphasized healthy life style. Koblerville Elementary School gathers parents for its Healthy Family Nights. While the Sports Play Active Recreation for Kids or SPARK boosts the physical education program of PSS.
Martin Dalsaso, a P.E. teacher of Gregorio T. Camacho School, said that the current austerity program of PSS is hurting its program. Although the Board of Education requires 40 minutes of physical activity daily, P.E. teachers are now teaching academic subjects.
But SPARK offers solution. He said it uses a curriculum designed for classroom teachers and this is the perfect time to implement it.
