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News from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Nutrition Expert Calls on Schoolteachers to Help Fight Childhood Obesity
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JULY 10, 2002 | A nutrition expert at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) urged Arkansas schoolteachers this week to help children avoid obesity.
Reza Hakkak, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Dietetics and Nutrition in the UAMS College of Health Related Professions, led a two-day course for educators this week on an exploding health problem in Arkansas: childhood obesity. Teachers have an important role in solving the problem, according to Dr. Hakkak.
"Role of Diet in the Prevention of Chronic Diseases" was part of the summer-long Partners In Health Sciences (PIHS) Teachers Teaching Teachers series, and attracted 55 science and health teachers and school nurses from around Arkansas.
The Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) calls childhood obesity an epidemic. Almost nine percent of the state's children ages five and under are classified as obese. That has led to a dramatic increase in the incidence among children and adolescents of what are normally thought of as adult diseases. One study showed a jump in
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Reza Hakkak, Ph.D., briefed Arkansas science and health teachers and school nurses on childhood obesity at a workshop this week. (JohnPaul Jones)
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type-2 diabetes among Arkansas children during the 1990s of 800 percent.
"There is a problem, and the problem is overweight and obesity, mainly in children," Dr. Hakkak said. "The data - I think we have to pay attention right now to it, otherwise we pay the price later on with health care."
The teachers attended presentations "Nutrition and Cancer Prevention" by Dr. Hakkak; "Heart Healthy Lifestyle" by UAMS Dietetic Internship Program Director Polly Carroll, M.A.; "Diabetes: An Arkansas Epidemic" by Arkansas Diabetes Program Director Debra Simmons, M.D. of the UAMS College of Medicine; and "Fruits and Vegetables," about ADH's Five-A-Day Program, by David Rath, M.A.
All of lectures emphasized early intervention to form healthy habits in children, including regular exercise. Dr. Hakkak pointed out only 37 percent of high school students attend one or more physical education classes during an average week.
"The teachers can play an important role. We don't want to treat the obesity by drugs, because there are no good drugs out there. But we have an opportunity to prevent it," Dr. Hakkak said.
Links on This Page
Bank of America: http://www.uams.edu/today/2002/061702/bofa.htm
Why Wait: http://www.uams.edu/today/010302/weight.htm
NIH Official: http://www.uams.edu/today/032201/partners.htm
(c) 2002 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS). A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. "UAMS," "UAMS Medical Center," "UAMS Online," "UAMS Today," "uams.edu," and "Here's to Your Health" are marks of UAMS.
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07/10/02 |
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