School News

How are schools advocating against child obesity?

Published by SchoolAdvisor | May 23, 2017
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By Nisshanthan Dhanapalan

We often enjoy seeing children looking a little chubby and “well fed” as a sign of a healthy child but are they really? As experts and world organisations bring to light Malaysia’s child obesity and malnutrition crisis, how are our schools aiding us in tackling this issue?

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Malaysia is currently facing the “double burden of malnutrition” crisis with six other countries in the ASEAN region according to the United Nations Children’s Fund, UNICEF last year. Double burden in a sense that Malaysian children are both suffering from either under-nutrition in terms of the lack of access to nutritious and healthy meals or obesity due to an extravagant, non-healthy diet. A study conducted by the Nutritional Society of Malaysia (NSM) in December 2015 found that 30% out of 80,000 primary and secondary school students are overweight or obese.

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Parents are one of the key players in ensuring that their children receive the best nutrition as possible at home but children these days spend most their time at school and most kids at least have two meals a day during recess times at schools.

Celebrated English Chef Jamie Oliver brought global attention of school meals and child nutrition through a reality TV series called Jamie’s Food Revolution, a programme dedicated to reforming unhealthy school lunches to healthier meals in school cafeterias across the United States. This followed with parents all over the world seeking to find out on meal options in schools especially those who are paying for it as part of the school fees.

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Hence, we also begin to question what are schools in our own country doing to improve and enrich our children’s nutrition? Are they caring for our children and are proactive of their healthcare and wellbeing?

“We see this as an opportunity to watch our student’s growth and to monitor their wellbeing beyond their learning.  Teachers are aware that a healthy child is one who is ready to learn at a high level.  If student’s wellbeing compromised, teachers will see the impact on not only their presence in class but in their achievement as well,” says Bill Ironside, Principal & Director of Programme, Sunway International School (SIS) and Canadian Matriculation Programme

He goes on to add that whether the presenting issue may be physical as in the case of a poor diet or lack of sleep, or whether it be an emotional issue such as a depression or anxiety; teachers are well positioned to observe subtle changes in student wellbeing and to not only provide classroom support, but to make a professional determination of when to contact parent or guardians and the appropriate school authorities about their concerns.

Children who are overweight or obese are at a risk of facing immediate or chronic illness such as diabetes, high blood pressure and cardiovascular diseases later in life. There is also an increasing prevalence of young children being diagnosed with obesity related Type 2 Diabetes, a condition where their bodies are resistant to insulin and this disrupts their blood glucose balance and is mostly prevalent among older individuals.Image result for overweight children

General manager of R.E.A.L Kids, Rachel Leow says that education and awareness are key to combating childhood obesity. From school programmes to government policies, all parties should play an active role in curbing childhood obesity.

“Unhealthy food advertising that focuses directly at children like fast food commercials as well as food safety and nutrition standards should be enforced. Communities can also do their part by organising health campaigns that encourage children to practice healthy habits such as sports activities and recreation. In fact, every one of us has a role to play in safeguarding the health of our younger generation,” she says.

Many private and international schools in Malaysia implement methods and strategies to combat obesity and malnutrition as part of a child’s education and development. Physical and health education is a big part across various school curricula which not only educates children on just being active, but also understanding their bodies and how they work. Hence, we asked two education experts on how it is done at their schools.

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“All SIS students study Healthy Active Living in grades 7,8 and 9. This Physical Education Curriculum from 2015 promotes the ideal of wellness from all aspect; mental, social and physical.  Students participate in active games for a minimum of 100 hours per year or approximately 30 minutes daily. Healthy Active Living incorporates healthy food choices for a strong body; emphasizing a balanced lifelong nutritional approach to food choices.,” says Ironside.

Leow echoes the same message in her response saying, “R.E.A.L Kids’ curriculum emphasizes on health and physical fitness to promote students’ well-being. We encourage these healthy habits and physical participation at all levels, through programmes and events such as our annual Sports Day and Healthy Diet & Nutrition Campaign, among others.”

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When picking the right school for your child, it is important to recognise the institution’s commitment in ensuring each student not only receives world class education but also, are educated on and provided with the best nutrition and lifestyle choices.

Take time to visit the schools and have a look at the dining options available in the school cafeteria. Talk to the school’s academicians on how they are including health, diet and physical activity lessons in the curriculum and how it will benefit your child in his or her development.