Health Center » Children's Health & Nutrition

HEALTH DEPARTMENT ISSUES WARNING TO N.Y.C. PUBLIC SCHOOLS

SPRING 2005. The N.Y.C. Department of Health stated that nearly 1.1 million students are overweight and 1 out of 5 kindergartners are obese.
 
School leaders immediately began the blame game. They blamed budget cuts that layed off teacher’s aids who normally do school yard duty. Teachers are not allowed to do school yard duty in compliance with their union rules. I was under the impression that the school system throughout the country was supposed to educate and stimulate the mind NOT physically stimulate our children.
 
However, Lori Benson, fitness Directory of the NYC Education Department noted that the city has made physical activity programs in the public school a priority. She also noted that three hundred teachers are trained to teach the children Tai Chi. ONLY IN NEW YORK!
 
What I find a bit baffling is how the N.Y.C. public school system became responsible for an obese kindergartner or an overweight 6th grader? At Infinite Health Resources we believe in empowering the people. We firmly believe that as parents we must take control of our children’s lives and guide them. This starts with the first solid food that enters your children’s young, fragile bodies. It is your responsibility for your children’s well being – no one else!
 
The unfortunate truth is that the majority of N.Y.C. schools are filled with minority children who rank at the very top of the obesity problem. Seven out of ten Hispanic children are overweight or obese. Five out of ten Black children are overweight or obese.  Four out of ten White children are overweight or obese.
 
Asian children, however, scored the best with just two out of ten children overweight or obese.  Coincidently, the Asian children come from a heritage and country that has the lowest heart disease and cancer rates in the world. Can this be due to diet?
 
So wake up people! The N.Y. C. school system has its problems but let’s not make obese children another problem for them. Thirty minutes of gym and schoolyard play is a wonderful stress reliever in a child’s school day. I certainly looked forward to my time in the schoolyard or gym when I was a child, but the underlying fact remains, diet and lifestyle makes healthy children.
 
We can help! Visit our Diet section by clicking on “BACK TO SCHOOL EATING.”
 
Our goal at Infinite Health Resources is to teach you how to live a healthy lifestyle by making proper nutrition your normal daily activity.
 
Did you know that the big fast food companies scout their locations carefully? A recent Chicago based study found fast food restaurants are clustered within walking distance of schools. At least seventy-eight percent of local schools have fast food outlets within one mile.
 
We have to send our kids packing – packing a nutritious lunch! We as parents are responsible for our children. So when we tell them not to smoke and not do drugs we must also remind them that fast food is a slow death equal to smoking or drugs – it’s that serious! Set an example – be in control – and be responsible for your children.

Infinite Health Resources does not at any point, for any circumstances suggest that you do not follow or stop medical advice of your physician. We do not advocate any drugs that has not been prescribed by your physician, nor suggest that we are medical doctors nor are we giving medical advice. Infinite Health Resources is here purely as a resource.