As part of our administration's ongoing effort to combat childhood obesity, we have developed new wellness guidelines that will help to develop lifelong healthy living habits among young people in the Kapolei area.

Under this new initiative, we will be devoting much more energy to improving the quality of school lunches and weeding out junk foods. The new wellness policy is also focused on ensuring that our young people take part in physical activity every day.

This effort is part of a national movement prompted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child Reauthorization Act.

The federal mandate gives us wide latitude to adopt policies that promote improved nutrition and physical activity - important weapons in our battle to overcome childhood obesity.

A recent study showed that more than a quarter of all incoming kindergarten students in Hawai‘i were overweight or obese, putting them at risk of developing high blood pressure and other health problems.

While it remains to be seen whether this school-based wellness initiative will produce its intended results against obesity, our schools in the Kapolei area are in a logical position to model healthy behavior and produce noticeable changes in lunch menus.

We want to see more fruit, vegetables, and whole grains on lunch trays. Our young people learn by example, and our schools are now stepping forward to set a better example.

If we want our young people to grow up eating healthful foods, we shouldn't be serving them Cheetos and apple fritters. That's an inconsistent message. These new wellness guidelines put in place a policy that will reinforce our message of healthy living.

The state recognizes that there is a strong link between health and academics, and that healthy children are more ready to learn and achieve their fullest potential.

These guidelines will have a lasting impact on this and future generations of students, who will in turn make for healthier and more productive citizens in our local work force and communities in the Kapolei area.

---

Social Bookmarks:

Comments (0)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

Name

Email

Website

Title

Comment

smaller | bigger

Subscribe via email (Registered users only)

I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage.

Write the displayed characters

Add Comment