What’s the Matter with Kids Today?

In America today we live in a culture that fosters eating…at every moment of the day.

1 in 3 children born in the year 2000 will become obese in their lifetime.

Obesity Disproportionately Effects Young People of Color

Youth who are significantly overweight are at much greater risk for:

• Digestive Disorders• Heart Illnesses• Respiratory Problems• Depression• Mental Illness• Type 2 Diabetes

Many of these diseases where previously only seen in adult populations

This generation will be the 1st in history to have a lower life

expectancy than their parents.

According to experts:

• Cut Backs in Physical Education Programs• A Rise in Children Eating-out; Fast-food,

Convenience Food and Processed Foods• Decline in the Relative Cost of Food• Increased Availability of Snacks and Sodas In

Public Schools

Are the biggest contributing factors to these alarming health trends.

There Are No Federal Laws Requiring Physical Education In Schools

Currently in the United States:• 4% of Elementary Schools,• 8% of Middle Schools, and • 2% of High Schools

Provide Daily Physical Education

Pernicious, Powerful and Predatory Advertising of High-Calorie, Low-

Nutrient Foods is a Huge Part of the Problem…

“Kidfluence”• In 2002, children age 4-12 were spending $30

billion in direct purchasing, nearly 5 times as much as they spent in in 1989

• Between 1999 and 2004 alone, teenage spending increased close to 40% from $122 billion to $169 billion.

• Based on a 2005 study, the Institute of Medicine determined: “food and beverage marketing influences preferences and purchases and is a likely contributor to health outcomes and risk among children and youth”

• In 2006 the Department of Health and Human Services urged that companies engage in more responsible production, packaging and marketing practices

In response, food and beverage companies began “self regulation” claiming to add more healthy ingredients to already unhealthy products...

…the problem is, self regulation allows companies to simply makes the problem “less

bad” as opposed to working towards actual solutions to child obesity problems.

In May of 2006, Pepsi, Coke and Schweppes, working with former President Clinton, agreed

to stop selling their soft drinks in schools.

These same companies also own all of the sugary sports and juice drink brands, which were excluded from the deal; so for them, this meant nothing more than changing out the vending machines…

Over 99% of US Schools Participate in the National School Lunch Program

• Food Consumed at School Represents 40-50% of Children's Caloric Intake

• 94% of Schools Serve Food That Failed to Meet USDA Standards

• 80% of the Food Served in Schools is Above the Recommended Amount of Saturated Fat

88.9% of Parents Surveyed Believed The School Lunch Food Served is “Somewhat”

or “Very Healthy”

In 2010, President Obama Signed Into Law The Healthy Hunger-Free Kids Act Which:

• Develops higher nutrition based on recommendations from the Institute of Medicine

• Doubles the amount of fruit served at breakfast• Increases the quality of vegetables in lunch and

requires the servings of dark green and orange varieties

• Permits potatoes to substituted as vegetables but limits it to twice a week

• Immediately requires that 50% of the grains served be whole grains increasing to 100% in two years

• Reduces sodium in lunches by 53% over the course of ten years

• Reduces saturated fat to 10% of all the calories served in week

• Requires any chocolate milk served in schools be fat-free

Soon After the Signing Congress, Under Pressure From the Potato Lobby, Made Drastic Changes to

the Bill:

• Keeping Daily Serving of French Fries on the Menu

• Delaying the Boosting of Whole Grains, and

• Allowing Tomato Paste on Pizza to be Called a Vegetable

No Matter if the Issue is Being Shaped by Corporate Interests or Governmental Regulation…

…It’s All Still Adults Imposing Their Will and Acting upon Children and Young People.

Youth Have a Critical Role in Solving this Epidemic:

• Youth Must Feel a Sense of Agency- That They Can Make an Impact on Their Own Lives and the Lives of Their Peers.

• They Must Develop Socio-Politically- Understanding the Larger Forces at Play in the Situation and the Power Their Demographic Possesses to Influence the Larger Context

• Developing Youth Leadership- Young People Must Have a Platform and a Comfort Using Their Voice and Deeds to Lead Peers.

But Certain Empowerments Must be Present:

Youth L.E.A.D Miami (Youth Leading Environmental Action through Democracy) is an

Incredible Model for Youth Empowerments Around Health and Wellness

During a 12 week program, Youth L.E.A.D. educates and empowers young people to adopt healthy, sustainable behaviors and advocate for

food & environmental justice in their schools and communities.

Their Approach Incorporates Social Justice Youth Development Strategies:

• Facilitate Youth to be Critical Thinkers about Food Choices

• Encourage Youth to Educate Their Parents, Friends and Fellow Community Members

• Learn to Question What They Are Told by Adults and the Media

• Compare Food Quality and Price• Reflect on What They Learn by Blogging • Incorporate Aspects of Their Culture

into the Program

Youth L.E.A.D Sees “Kids” as a Resource:

• Upon Completion of the 12 Week Program, all Graduates of Youth L.E.A.D are Employed and Paid to Work at Farmers Markets in Miami

• Returning Graduates Participate in a Peer Mentor Program Where They are Paid to Recruit Peers, Amongst Other Crucial Roles, are Seen as an Investment in the Future of the Organization Who Will One Day Fill the Roles of the Adults at Youth L.E.A.D

If We Are to Solve the Youth Obesity Problem in Our Country, Young People Will Need to be a

Part of the Solution

“Nothing is more important in our national life than the welfare of our children, and proper nourishment comes first in attaining this welfare.”

-President Harry S. Truman, 1946