From Your Health Journal…..”A great article in the Med Ill Reports by Srushti Shahand Kaitlyn Zufall entitled Chicago schools rev up fight against obesity. As we know, childhood obesity is on the rise in many areas of the world. Obesity related illnesses are also up, including heart disease, asthma, cancer, type 2 diabetes, and weak joints. Recently, Michelle Obama spoke about how childhood obesity has improved in such cities as NYC and LA, but the condition is still prevalent in Chicago, according to statistics released at the end of February by the Chicago Department of Public Health. One in every four students in kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades in the city’s public school system is obese, reports a newly released study by the health department and Chicago Public Schools. The obesity rate for all of Illinois in 2011 was only 12 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Please visit the Med Ill Reports web site (link provided below) to read the complete article.”

From the article…..

Childhood obesity is declining in certain cities in the U. S., but the condition is still prevalent in Chicago, according to statistics released at the end of February by the Chicago Department of Public Health.

And it’s double the statewide rate of obesity in kids and adolescents.

One in every four students in kindergarten, sixth and ninth grades in the city’s public school system is obese, reports a newly released study by the health department and Chicago Public Schools. The obesity rate for all of Illinois in 2011 was only 12 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

For Chicago, the kids who are either overweight or obese add up to a startling 36.5 percent of kindergartners, 48.6 percent of sixth graders and 44.7 percent of ninth graders.

The study accompanies an action plan, the Healthy Chicago Public Schools Agenda for Student Health and Wellness, also released jointly by CPS and the health department.

The action plan addresses multiple student health issues such as obesity, tobacco use and HIV prevention. The plan calls for obesity prevention through actions such as eliminating the use of food or fitness opportunities as rewards or punishments and implementing a standardized curriculum for physical education.

To read the complete article…..Click here