February 2011 - Parks & Recreation - 47

By Zarnaaz Bashir

co mmuni ty health

Partnering with Schools
to Prevent Childhood Obesity

C

hildren in the United States are heavier today than they were a genera-

tion ago. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), nearly one in
five youth between the ages of 6 and 19 is obese. These children are more
likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as high cholesterol or high
blood pressure; and they are more at risk for associated adult health problems, including heart disease and Type 2 diabetes.
American Heart Association studies have shown
that children and adolescents are not engaging in the
recommended 60 minutes or more of physical activity a day-an especially disturbing situation given
the number of major health risk factors that begin
in childhood. Concerns such as these have prompted park and recreation agencies across the nation to
work closely with community leaders to create more
walkable and bikeable communities in order to promote regular physical activity in children and support active living.
Today, far more children ride to school in cars or
school buses than walk or bicycle to school. In fact,
according to the CDC, less than 15 percent of children walk or bicycle to school. In 1969, 42 percent
of children ages 5 to 18 years walked or biked to
school, with 87 percent of children within one mile
of schools walking or bicycling to school. This sharp
decline in walking and bicycling has not only affected the health of our children-it has also had a negative impact on traffic congestion, air quality, and
student safety around schools.
Park and recreation agencies can get involved
to help improve the health and well-being of children by participating in initiatives such as a " walking
school bus " (i.e., an adult leading children in walking
a fixed route at a fixed time) or Safe Routes to School.
Safe Routes to School is a national initiative that enables and motivates children, including those with

	

disabilities, to bike or walk to school in a safer, more
appealing environment. The Safe Routes to School
Program is a Federal-Aid program of the U.S. Department of Transportation's Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). A major goal of the program
is to increase bicycle, pedestrian, and traffic safety, partly through funding for sidewalks, crosswalks,
and other transportation safety elements.
Park and recreation agencies across the country have helped assess conditions around schools
to make improvements to bike paths, trails, and

w w w . NR P A . ORG

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February 2011 - Parks & Recreation

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