Most people know that swimming is a great form of exercise, and at Sports West, we are the only health club in town that offers you an indoor, saline-system lap pool. If you haven't taken a swim lately, the following article might give you that little shove you need to get you to take the plunge and paddle your way to great fitness!

Is there a fitness subject that you would like to know more about? If so, email me at cpkarkow@sportswestreno.com and let me know! I'll be happy to find out some info and post it here!~Christine

School-Based BMI Screening Programs

from-the Kid's Table, IDEA Fitness Journal
May 2007

We all know that childhood obesity is at an all-time high in many developed nations. Health experts say that the earlier a child is identified as having a weight problem, the earlier interventions can begin to stave off the development of obesity-related conditions, such as type 2 diabetes and hypertension.

A public school in the East Penn School District in Emmaus, Pennsylvainia, recently initiated a BMI screening program for students in kindergarten through grade 12. The program was developed and implemented by the public school district's nursing staff (with significant administrative support), using guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (DCDC). The CDC guidlines help identify children who are under weight, within established norms, at risk of becoming overweight or already over weight, based on their age and gender.

Parents of the participating students were notified by mail of the results of their kids' BMI screening. District-wide, the number of underweight and overweight kids have decreased since screeinng began 5 years ago. Since its inception, the program has been instrumental in keeping the number of overweight children in the district below the national average among the students.

According to the researchers who profiled this screening program in Nutrition Today(2006; 41[6], 274-79) "What began as a growth screening program resulted in comprehensive changes to improve nutrition and physical activity for students."

We think the school district deserves and "A" for effort in making fitness happen for the students in its care.