Distressed - and energized to action. Both those states collided after I watched this trailer by Consuming Kids. Do yourself a favor and take 5 minutes to watch this video. Comments? Please share.
Once you've seen the video, if you want to learn more you can visit the blog Shaping Youth.
Monday, December 01, 2008
Thursday, August 21, 2008
F for FAT - We aren't making progress!
Robert Woods Johnson Foundation consistently brings forward valuable studies and innovative efforts in the fight toward healthy weight and wellness outcomes for all populations. A recent report states:
All 50 states and D.C. have physical education legislation aimed at schools, but only 13 have enforceable language in their laws, and only 4 include sanctions or penalties for failing schools or districts.
"Experts estimate that if we keep on the current course, 75 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2015," the report says.
Childhood obesity rates did not rise this year for the first time in 25 years, but experts aren't sure if this is merely a statistical blip or the result of public health campaigns.
According to the report, a depressing and lengthy list of factors are making Americans fatter and fatter, including longer work hours (so people eat out of the home more often), long commutes by car or train, exclusion of obesity treatments from health coverage, high cost of gym memberships, lack of grocery stores in poor neighborhoods, an "electronic culture" of entertainment, consumer frustration with nutrition information and advice, stress, relentless advertising of unhealthy foods and fad diets, few safe routes for children to walk to school (so their parents drive them), increase in portion sizes, increases in suburban enclaves without sidewalks or with nowhere to walk to, limited or dangerous parks and playgrounds.
Today's Americans work more, and differently, too. This is an area in which a new program called FootGaming (TM) could make a positive impact while adding FUN. The report cites workplaces for not being helpful in these areas:
Desk jobs limit or discourage physical activity
Few opportunities for physical activity or exercise during the work day
Unhealthy cafeteria options
Lack of bike racks and showers which discourage cyclists who might ride to work.
The study suggests replacing smoke breaks with exercise breaks. "Employees should be encouraged to engage in physical activity on their lunch hours and breaks," the report says. "Employers have long allowed smokers to step outside for 10 minutes ... for a cigarette break."
All 50 states and D.C. have physical education legislation aimed at schools, but only 13 have enforceable language in their laws, and only 4 include sanctions or penalties for failing schools or districts.
"Experts estimate that if we keep on the current course, 75 percent of Americans will be overweight or obese by 2015," the report says.
Childhood obesity rates did not rise this year for the first time in 25 years, but experts aren't sure if this is merely a statistical blip or the result of public health campaigns.
According to the report, a depressing and lengthy list of factors are making Americans fatter and fatter, including longer work hours (so people eat out of the home more often), long commutes by car or train, exclusion of obesity treatments from health coverage, high cost of gym memberships, lack of grocery stores in poor neighborhoods, an "electronic culture" of entertainment, consumer frustration with nutrition information and advice, stress, relentless advertising of unhealthy foods and fad diets, few safe routes for children to walk to school (so their parents drive them), increase in portion sizes, increases in suburban enclaves without sidewalks or with nowhere to walk to, limited or dangerous parks and playgrounds.
Today's Americans work more, and differently, too. This is an area in which a new program called FootGaming (TM) could make a positive impact while adding FUN. The report cites workplaces for not being helpful in these areas:
Desk jobs limit or discourage physical activity
Few opportunities for physical activity or exercise during the work day
Unhealthy cafeteria options
Lack of bike racks and showers which discourage cyclists who might ride to work.
The study suggests replacing smoke breaks with exercise breaks. "Employees should be encouraged to engage in physical activity on their lunch hours and breaks," the report says. "Employers have long allowed smokers to step outside for 10 minutes ... for a cigarette break."
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Kids' Cereal - Misleading Breakfast Bites
Do yourself a favor and subscribe to the Rudd Center Health Digest. It's regular informational e-newsletter is a treasure trove of information relevant to all of us.
The most recent newsletter contained this: Breakfast is widely considered the most important meal of the day, and both public health officials and the food industry encourage children to eat breakfast. Yet a new study by researchers at the Rudd Center reports that breakfast cereals geared towards children (with either a licensed character or a kids-oriented activity featured on the package) are significantly less healthy than cereals designed for adults. An analysis of over 160 different cereal brands found that those cereals marketed most aggressively to children have the worst nutritional quality; they are higher in calories, sugar, and sodium, and lower in fiber and protein, than adult cereals.
Rudd Center researchers also found that nutrient claims made for children’s cereals may be misleading to consumers. A nutrition content analysis found that children’s cereals sold as “low in fat,” “low in sugar,” or “made with whole grains,” were not actually any better with respect to their overall nutrition profiles than cereals without such health claims. "This was especially true when it came to calories. People may think that a cereal that says "low fat" or "reduced sugar" is going to be lower in calories, but we found that was not the case," said the study's lead researcher and Rudd Center Deputy Director Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD. Go to their website to read all of the article.
The most recent newsletter contained this: Breakfast is widely considered the most important meal of the day, and both public health officials and the food industry encourage children to eat breakfast. Yet a new study by researchers at the Rudd Center reports that breakfast cereals geared towards children (with either a licensed character or a kids-oriented activity featured on the package) are significantly less healthy than cereals designed for adults. An analysis of over 160 different cereal brands found that those cereals marketed most aggressively to children have the worst nutritional quality; they are higher in calories, sugar, and sodium, and lower in fiber and protein, than adult cereals.
Rudd Center researchers also found that nutrient claims made for children’s cereals may be misleading to consumers. A nutrition content analysis found that children’s cereals sold as “low in fat,” “low in sugar,” or “made with whole grains,” were not actually any better with respect to their overall nutrition profiles than cereals without such health claims. "This was especially true when it came to calories. People may think that a cereal that says "low fat" or "reduced sugar" is going to be lower in calories, but we found that was not the case," said the study's lead researcher and Rudd Center Deputy Director Marlene B. Schwartz, PhD. Go to their website to read all of the article.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Junk Food- Looks Good, Smells Good, We Want IT!
Food images 'switch on' the brain (Read the full article here)
20/04/2004- Brain circuits involved in drug addiction are also activated by the desire for food. Researchers found that the mere display of food - the smelling and tasting of favourite foods without actually eating them - causes increases in metabolism throughout the brain. They add that this could contribute to the 'globesity' epidemic.
The findings confirm the power of advertising and the food maker's widely known belief that food needs to look good to sell.According to scientists at the US Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory, increases in metabolism in the brain region that controls pleasure were strongly linked to the desire for food in the study participants.
"These results could explain the deleterious effects of constant exposure to food stimuli, such as advertising, sweet machines, food channels, and food displays in shops," said Gene-Jack Wang, the study's lead author. "The high sensitivity of this brain region to food stimuli, coupled with the huge number and variety of these stimuli in the environment, likely contributes to the epidemic of obesity in this country."
"These results could explain the deleterious effects of constant exposure to food stimuli, such as advertising, sweet machines, food channels, and food displays in shops," said Gene-Jack Wang, the study's lead author. "The high sensitivity of this brain region to food stimuli, coupled with the huge number and variety of these stimuli in the environment, likely contributes to the epidemic of obesity in this country."
The next time you walk into the movie theater and crave popcorn, or walk by the pretzel or cinnamon-bun stand and crave something sweet and gooey NOW - consider how you must fight your natural brain response to simply keep walking!
Do you have strategies that work? Can we create images, scents and responses to beautiful, healthful food that could support smart, nourishing choices?
We hope you comment and then join us at Get Outta My Face.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
GOMF Super Star!
One of the GOMF teens, Neil, is working hard to continue his education at film school. Writing a mystery-adventure screenplay keeps him partially engaged, but his mind is always working on new ideas for our project collection. Recently he suggested a "live" series of improv-type events that would star a giant carrot hero vs various junk food characters.
The actors will be from Team GOMF and the event will take place during Summer "Munch 'n Music" in Bend. Podcast viewings of the live action willl be broadcast and the "best of the best" series will be developed into a DVD we can share with teachers via our GOMF Creative idea site.
NEED: Costumes! Does anyone have a carrot, a candy bar, an apple or other "food" costume that would fit a 5' or taller person? If so, please let us know. We will buy or borrow!
Please help us make progress in our mission. It is complex, take a look at recent news from RWJ Foundation:
New Mexico lawmakers are considering a bill that would add a 1 percent tax to television sets and video game consoles. [We rally behind a different direction and suggest that video games can be played in a way that active exercise is part of the process - do you wonder how that might happen? Please e-mail us and request information on the NRG Mat]
The state would use the resulting tax funds to support outdoor educational programming through a state "No Child Left Inside" initiative. AMNews reports that experts say that obesity is a far more complex problem than smoking and laws targeting obesity have faced significant opposition by critics who cite the dearth of evidence supporting legislative interventions. For instance, Kelly Brownell of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University notes that tobacco involves just one product and few companies, while obesity involves thousands of companies and products, making it "hard to know exactly how to change" (Elliott, AMNews, 3/24/08 )
Please take a look at what teens hope to accomplish - by changing awareness and the actual culture surrounding CHOICES that could reduce overweight and impact wellness.
The actors will be from Team GOMF and the event will take place during Summer "Munch 'n Music" in Bend. Podcast viewings of the live action willl be broadcast and the "best of the best" series will be developed into a DVD we can share with teachers via our GOMF Creative idea site.
NEED: Costumes! Does anyone have a carrot, a candy bar, an apple or other "food" costume that would fit a 5' or taller person? If so, please let us know. We will buy or borrow!
Please help us make progress in our mission. It is complex, take a look at recent news from RWJ Foundation:
New Mexico lawmakers are considering a bill that would add a 1 percent tax to television sets and video game consoles. [We rally behind a different direction and suggest that video games can be played in a way that active exercise is part of the process - do you wonder how that might happen? Please e-mail us and request information on the NRG Mat]
The state would use the resulting tax funds to support outdoor educational programming through a state "No Child Left Inside" initiative. AMNews reports that experts say that obesity is a far more complex problem than smoking and laws targeting obesity have faced significant opposition by critics who cite the dearth of evidence supporting legislative interventions. For instance, Kelly Brownell of the Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity at Yale University notes that tobacco involves just one product and few companies, while obesity involves thousands of companies and products, making it "hard to know exactly how to change" (Elliott, AMNews, 3/24/08 )
Please take a look at what teens hope to accomplish - by changing awareness and the actual culture surrounding CHOICES that could reduce overweight and impact wellness.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
FatWorld - You Can WIN!
Take a look at this video of the game, FatWorld. Full immersion into the temptations and reality of fast food and the impact of choices is FUN! Persuasive Games has got a great game - be sure to check it out and download a trial.
They are solidly one of the best resources for information, things for kids and food politics out there. A visit is well worth some of your time.
(Image from FatWorld site)
Friday, March 07, 2008
It's not the TV, it's the "Attack of the Ads"
The full summary is found at http://www.rwjf.org/programareas/features/digest.jsp?c=EMC-ND138&pid=1138&id=7355
Restricting Screen Time Helps Overweight Children Attain Healthier Weight Status, Study Finds
A study in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that limiting screen time can help overweight children reduce their calorie intake and move toward a healthier weight status. To study the impact of controlling children's screen time, researchers from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, assigned 70 overweight children ages 4 to 7 who watched television or played computer games at least 14 hours a week to either an intervention group or a control group.
For the intervention group, researchers installed a monitoring device on participants' televisions to gradually reduce weekly screen time by 10 percent each week until their screen time was reduced by 50 percent. Intervention subjects also received rewards, such as money and stickers, to encourage their participation in activities other than TV or computer use. Researchers did not limit screen time for children in the control group, but did give their parents tips for reducing TV viewing and computer use. After two years, the researchers found that children in the intervention group had reduced their screen time by nearly 17.5 hours per week, while children in the control group had a reduction of only 5.2 hours per week. Although the researchers found no difference in physical activity levels between the two groups, children in the intervention group lost more weight than those in the control group. Specifically, 30 percent of the intervention group achieved a healthy BMI by the end of the two-year study, compared with 18 percent of the control group. The researchers speculate that cutting screen time reduces eating prompted by television ads, as well as mindless eating. (Reinberg, HealthDay/Yahoo! News, 3/3/08; Steenhuysen, Reuters/Yahoo! News, 3/3/08; Epstein et al., Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, March 2008
Restricting Screen Time Helps Overweight Children Attain Healthier Weight Status, Study Finds
A study in the March issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine suggests that limiting screen time can help overweight children reduce their calorie intake and move toward a healthier weight status. To study the impact of controlling children's screen time, researchers from the University at Buffalo, the State University of New York, assigned 70 overweight children ages 4 to 7 who watched television or played computer games at least 14 hours a week to either an intervention group or a control group.
For the intervention group, researchers installed a monitoring device on participants' televisions to gradually reduce weekly screen time by 10 percent each week until their screen time was reduced by 50 percent. Intervention subjects also received rewards, such as money and stickers, to encourage their participation in activities other than TV or computer use. Researchers did not limit screen time for children in the control group, but did give their parents tips for reducing TV viewing and computer use. After two years, the researchers found that children in the intervention group had reduced their screen time by nearly 17.5 hours per week, while children in the control group had a reduction of only 5.2 hours per week. Although the researchers found no difference in physical activity levels between the two groups, children in the intervention group lost more weight than those in the control group. Specifically, 30 percent of the intervention group achieved a healthy BMI by the end of the two-year study, compared with 18 percent of the control group. The researchers speculate that cutting screen time reduces eating prompted by television ads, as well as mindless eating. (Reinberg, HealthDay/Yahoo! News, 3/3/08; Steenhuysen, Reuters/Yahoo! News, 3/3/08; Epstein et al., Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, March 2008
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Study Suggests Spanish-Language TV Food Ads Contributing to Childhood Obesity
This is from the RWJ Foundation E-mail Service
A study in the journal Pediatrics released online on Tuesday suggests that the substantial number of advertisements for fast food on Spanish-language television stations may be contributing to the rising obesity epidemic among Latino youth, Reuters reports. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, researchers reviewed 60 hours of programming airing on the popular Spanish-language channels Telemundo and Univision between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., when children are most likely to watch television. The stations, which are watched by 99 percent and 93 percent of Latino households, respectively, aired an average of two or three food commercials every hour, and one-third of those food advertisements targeted children. According to lead researcher Dr. Darcy Thompson of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, nearly half of all food commercials promoted fast food, and more than half of all beverage commercials featured soda and other sugary drinks. Given their findings, the researchers recommend limiting children’s television viewing to two hours or less daily and suggest that children under two years of age not watch any television. In addition, the researchers suggest that pediatricians caring for Latino children recognize their patients’ exposure to food advertisements and call on public health officials to lobby for limits on food advertising that targets children (Reuters, 2/19/08; Johns Hopkins University release, 2/18/08).
A study in the journal Pediatrics released online on Tuesday suggests that the substantial number of advertisements for fast food on Spanish-language television stations may be contributing to the rising obesity epidemic among Latino youth, Reuters reports. Supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, researchers reviewed 60 hours of programming airing on the popular Spanish-language channels Telemundo and Univision between 3 p.m. and 9 p.m., when children are most likely to watch television. The stations, which are watched by 99 percent and 93 percent of Latino households, respectively, aired an average of two or three food commercials every hour, and one-third of those food advertisements targeted children. According to lead researcher Dr. Darcy Thompson of Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, nearly half of all food commercials promoted fast food, and more than half of all beverage commercials featured soda and other sugary drinks. Given their findings, the researchers recommend limiting children’s television viewing to two hours or less daily and suggest that children under two years of age not watch any television. In addition, the researchers suggest that pediatricians caring for Latino children recognize their patients’ exposure to food advertisements and call on public health officials to lobby for limits on food advertising that targets children (Reuters, 2/19/08; Johns Hopkins University release, 2/18/08).
Monday, February 18, 2008
TV Ads - 0% Fruit
7,600 is the average number of food ads seen on TV annually by tweens (ages 8-12), according to a study by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
4,400: Average number of food ads seen annually by children ages 2-7
1: rank of food as the top product advertised for children and teens
34: of all ads in the study that target children or teens, percentage that are for candy or snacks
28: percentage that are for cereal (is cereal a candy- or snack because of the high sugar content?)
0: Of the 8,854 ads reviewed in the study, number that were for fruits or vegeatables.
Is youth overweight a function of media? Or can we exercise it away? We'd love to hear your comments.
4,400: Average number of food ads seen annually by children ages 2-7
1: rank of food as the top product advertised for children and teens
34: of all ads in the study that target children or teens, percentage that are for candy or snacks
28: percentage that are for cereal (is cereal a candy- or snack because of the high sugar content?)
0: Of the 8,854 ads reviewed in the study, number that were for fruits or vegeatables.
Is youth overweight a function of media? Or can we exercise it away? We'd love to hear your comments.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Can We Beat the Screens?
We need YOUR great ideas!!! Can you imagine ways kids can get active and rise ABOVE THE JUNK? If so, send us your ideas!!!
In an article by Meghan Ogilvie: Teenagers are leading the most sedentary lifestyle, but physical activity levels are declining across all age groups, said the report released yesterday. Ninety-one per cent of kids don't meet Canada's recommendations for 90 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, prompting a grade of "F" in that sub-category.
"It's not getting better, despite our best efforts," said Dr. Mark Tremblay, chair of Active Healthy Kids Canada. Childhood obesity rates are soaring and one in four Canadians between the ages of 2 and 17 are overweight or obese, an increase of 35 per cent since 2003.
"We're losing ground," said Tremblay. "The forces in society are greater than us at the moment. The seduction of screens, the way that we build the world, our fear of being outside, our disconnect with nature, all of these things are impacting it (physical activity) significantly."
Children between the ages of 10 and 16 are spending an average of six hours a day in front of a television or computer screen.
While studies have shown an increase in sedentary activities such as watching television or playing on computers can lead to an increase in body weight, Tremblay said the report card also found an association between sedentary behaviours and anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
The report notes after-school hours are the "danger zone" because that's when most children and adolescents turn on the computer or TV. Schools, communities and parents are encouraged to open up more after-school options for physical activity and assign creative homework opportunities that involve activity.
Take a look at our website for ways to share your good ideas!
In an article by Meghan Ogilvie: Teenagers are leading the most sedentary lifestyle, but physical activity levels are declining across all age groups, said the report released yesterday. Ninety-one per cent of kids don't meet Canada's recommendations for 90 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day, prompting a grade of "F" in that sub-category.
"It's not getting better, despite our best efforts," said Dr. Mark Tremblay, chair of Active Healthy Kids Canada. Childhood obesity rates are soaring and one in four Canadians between the ages of 2 and 17 are overweight or obese, an increase of 35 per cent since 2003.
"We're losing ground," said Tremblay. "The forces in society are greater than us at the moment. The seduction of screens, the way that we build the world, our fear of being outside, our disconnect with nature, all of these things are impacting it (physical activity) significantly."
Children between the ages of 10 and 16 are spending an average of six hours a day in front of a television or computer screen.
While studies have shown an increase in sedentary activities such as watching television or playing on computers can lead to an increase in body weight, Tremblay said the report card also found an association between sedentary behaviours and anxiety, depression and low self-esteem.
The report notes after-school hours are the "danger zone" because that's when most children and adolescents turn on the computer or TV. Schools, communities and parents are encouraged to open up more after-school options for physical activity and assign creative homework opportunities that involve activity.
Take a look at our website for ways to share your good ideas!
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