- Physical Activity
and Nutrition
BMI Study- Let's Move
Child Care - Let's Move
Cities and Towns - Worksite Health
Scorecard - Links for
Parents
Physical Activity and Nutrition
In south central Idaho, 63% of adults are obese. About 27% of adults do not participate in physical activity.
Source: 2012 Idaho Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
Idaho youth exhibit similar trends toward inactivity, poor eating habits, and being overweight. One out of every four preschool children is either overweight or at risk of being overweight. Only 53% of Idaho high school students are physically active for at least 60 minutes per day and only 18% of Idaho high school students eat fruits and vegetables five or more times per day. 23% of Idaho high school students are overweight or obese.
Source: 2011 Idaho Youth Risk Behavior Survey
2011-2012 3rd Grade BMI Study
The majority of third grade children in south central Idaho are at a healthy weight, according to the 2011-2012 Body Mass Index (BMI) Assessment. BMI is calculated using a child's height and weight and is one of the most widely used indicators of body fat for children.
As part of a statewide BMI study, South Central Public Health District (SCPHD) weighed and measured 364 third-grade students in six counties at six randomly selected schools in the 2011-2012 school year. Of these, 66% of children were at their ideal weight, 32% were overweight or obese, and 2% were underweight. These results are similar to other Idaho third grade students.
|
South Central Public Health District |
Idaho |
Underweight |
2.1% |
1.5% |
Healthy Weight |
66.4% |
68.8% |
Overweight |
17.0% |
15.1% |
Obese |
14.5% |
14.6% |
Childhood obesity in south central Idaho has not significantly changed since the last assessment in 2007-2008. However, statewide, 30% of third graders tipped the scale as overweight or obese in 2012 compared to 28% just four years ago.
For more information about the BMI assessment:
- Send an email to the PAN Coordinator
- Call the coordinator at (208) 678-8221
Let's Move! Child Care
One in five children are overweight or obese by the age of six. Child care and early education providers are a powerful force in children's lives. Providers can help children learn habits that prevent childhood obesity and can keep them healthy for life.
The Let's Move! Child Care campaign focuses on five key areas of childhood obesity prevention:
-
Physical Activity
-
Screen Time
-
Food
-
Beverages
-
Infant Feeding
SCPHD is currently working with child care facilities in south central Idaho to complete the Let's Move! Child Care assessment. This activity is free to child care facilities. Resources, best practices, and technical assistance will be provided to help the facilities make simple, but effective, changes to help reduce childhood obesity.
If you are a child care or early education provider, and would like to participate in the Let's Move! assessment, or if you have questions about the program, email or call the program coordinator at (208) 678-8221.
Let's Move! Child Care Workshop
A FREE workshop for child care providers committed to healthy early care!
Resources
- Healthy Kids: Healthy Snacks
- Turn Off the TV, Turn on Play Handout in English and Spanish
- Screentime Handout in English
- Family Checklist for Physical Activity in Early Care and Education
- Family Checklist for Nutrition in Early Care and Education
- Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Fruits and Vegetables
English
Español - Physical Activity Pyramid for Young Children
English
Español - Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids
Tips for Parents At Home
English
Español
Links
Let's Move! Cities, Towns, and Counties
The Let's Move! campaign also has an initiative specifically for cities, towns, and counties. Local elected officials who sign up as a Let's Move! city, town, or county site must be willing to commit to five goals.
-
Start Early, Start Smart: To provide children with a healthier start, local elected officials commit to helping early care and education providers incorporate best practices for nutrition, physical activity and screen time into their programs.
-
MyPlate, Your Place: To empower parents and caregivers, local elected officials commit to prominently displaying MyPlate in all municipal or county venues where food is served.
-
Smart Servings for Students: To provide healthy food in schools, local elected officials commit to increasing participation in the School Breakfast Program (SBP) and the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
-
Model Food Service: To improve access to healthy, affordable foods, local elected officials commit to implementing healthy and sustainable food service guidelines that are aligned with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans in all municipal and county venues that serve food.
-
Active Kids at Play: To increase physical activity, local elected officials commit to mapping local play spaces, completing a needs assessment, developing an action plan, and launching a minimum of three proven policies, programs or initiatives aimed at increasing access to play.
SCPHD is currently working with the city of Rupert to receive certification. If you would like more information about this Let's Move! initiative, please email or call the program coordinator at (208) 678-8221.
Links
CDC Worksite Health Scorecard
Worksite environments have a significant impact on employees' overall health, and employers can experience meaningful benefits from maintaining a healthy workforce.
SCPHD is currently implementing the National Healthy Worksite Health Scorecard with businesses in south central Idaho. The Scorecard was developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The worksite scorecard measures the evidence-based practices and strategies that an organization has implemented to improve and maintain the health of their employees.
For more information about the Scorecard, email or call the program coordinator at (208) 678-8221.
Links for Parents
Idaho Association for Education of Young Children
National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education
Just in Time Parenting Newsletters
Parenting and Childhood Obesity Treatment/Prevention Webinar
Fruits and Veggies: More Matters
Resources
- Healthy Kids: Healthy Snacks
- Turn Off the TV, Turn on Play Handout in English and Spanish
- Screentime Handout in English
- Family Checklist for Physical Activity in Early Care and Education
- Family Checklist for Nutrition in Early Care and Education
- Tips for Getting Kids to Eat Fruits and Vegetables
English
Español - Physical Activity Pyramid for Young Children
English
Español - Healthy Snacks for Healthy Kids
Tips for Parents At Home
English
Español