Premier Applauds Healthy Kids

Children at 12 schools in the Annapolis Valley are on a healthy track for life thanks to a comprehensive healthy living program funded by the Office of Health Promotion.

A study conducted in Nova Scotia was published in the American Journal of Public Health today, Feb. 22. The Children's Lifestyle and School-Performance Study recognized the success of the program offered in the 12 Valley schools, citing lower obesity rates among Grade 5 students at those facilities compared to other schools.

"I'm very pleased that, when students are given a choice, they will make the healthy choice," said Premier John Hamm. "I congratulate the students, the school board, the schools and all the community partners who worked so hard in putting this program into action."

The Valley schools made it easy for their students to choose healthy food and regular activity. The study shows four per cent of Grade 5 students at these schools were obese compared to 10 per cent of Grade 5 students in schools with a less comprehensive healthy living program, or no program.

Premier Hamm said the schools have set an example the government can use provincewide and that plans are being made to implement similar programs in other schools.

The Office of Health Promotion provided $100,000 for the project. Health Promotion Minister Rodney MacDonald said the Office will continue the good work started by these schools.

"This program has made a real difference to these children, now and for the rest of their lives," said Mr. MacDonald. "With good habits established early in life, they are reducing their risk for disease when they're older. That is a key objective of Health Promotion."

The schools involved in the program include Cambridge and District Elementary; Central Kings Rural High; Champlain Elementary; Clark Rutherford Memorial; Coldbrook and District; Dr. Arthur Hines Elementary; Evangeline Middle School; LE Shaw Elementary; New Minas Elementary; Port Williams Elementary; Somerset and District Elementary; and Wolfville School.

The study was conducted in 2003 and surveyed 5,200 fifth-grade students in Nova Scotia schools. It was funded by the Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Over the past two decades, rates of overweight and obese children have tripled nationally. Atlantic Canadian children are at greater risk for these conditions than children in the rest of the country. Reducing these rates in Nova Scotia is a priority for the Office of Health Promotion.

Physical activity and healthy eating were two of many topics also discussed by 600 partners at an Education Partners' Forum held Feb. 18-19. All agreed that student health is a priority. The Office of Health Promotion and Department of Education will continue to work with schools and other partners to ensure students across the province lead healthy lifestyles.