New schools programme to tackle SA's unhealthy kids

Last year the Healthy Active Kids SA Report card revealed:

- South African adolescents have the highest reported smoking prevalence in Africa
- South African urban youth do not like to participate in sport and many watch more than three hours of television per day
- Obesity in South African children co-exists with stunting and nutritional deprivation.

This year, Discovery Vitality offers a practical solution

The science-based wellness programme has rolled out the Vitality Schools Programme to 1 000 public and private schools across South Africa. The programme is available to all schools and details are available at www.discovery.co.za.

It is a practical, lesson-based plan with deliverables aimed at stemming unhealthy behaviour and encouraging healthy lifestyles. It is aligned to the National Curriculum Statement for learners.

Dr Craig Nossel, Head of Vitality Wellness, says: “The purpose of the programme is to educate children about leading a healthier lifestyle by encouraging teachers and children to address the major lifestyle risk factors that youth face.

“This initiative is an integral part of Discovery Vitality's strategy which says that encouraging healthy behaviours from a young age enables families to improve their long-term health.''

Today's launch at the Blairgowrie Primary School, Johannesburg, follows the release of the Healthy Active Kids SA Report Card last year. In the report, Discovery Vitality and the Sports Science Institute of South Africa (SISSA) gave the kids an overall C- rating with a medium to high risk of developing lifestyle related chronic diseases in future. These results, and further research conducted at schools, enabled Discovery Vitality, professors, education specialists and healthcare professionals from SISSA to develop and launch the programme.

“Four major factors are placing our kids' health at risk. They are smoking, eating poorly, not getting enough exercise and are obese. The schools programme offers solutions to stem these behaviours.

“The right foundation in childhood will ultimately lead to healthier adults and a healthier population. Research has shown that obese kids tend to become obese adults that have to deal with conditions such as type II diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke,'' Nossel says.

In research conducted by Dr David Ludwig (MD, PhD) in the paper Childhood Obesity - The Shape of Things to Come he notes that obese children tend to be heavy in adulthood as the obese promoting lifestyle habits tend to persist. In addition, carrying excessive weight early in life may elicit irreversible biological changes in hormonal pathways, fat cells, and the brain that increase hunger and adversely affect metabolism.

His research indicates unhealthy habits in children not only result in health problems but also mental problems. Obese children tend to be more socially isolated and have high rates of disordered eating patterns, anxiety and depression.

“This research highlights why it is imperative that we intervene from an earlier age, as it is much harder to change your lifestyle when you are an adult. We are seeing a global trend to manage these health risks from a younger age as the obesity epidemic is fast becoming an international phenomenon,” says Dr Nossel.

The economic impact of an obese nation is costly. In the United States, conservative estimates place the hospital costs associated with obesity to more than $127 million per year in recent years. It is estimated that 20 years ago obesity was costing them only $35 million a year, representing a threefold increase.

“The health and wellbeing of South Africa's children is fundamental to the future health of our nation - we want to change our children's health profile from a C minus to an A and we call on all schools to join in this important quest,” said Dr Nossel.

Professor Tim Noakes, renowned sports scientist and Discovery Professor of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of Cape Town, says: “It is important to stress that the recommended solutions are not difficult or costly for schools to implement.”

Anne Harman, Principal of Blairgowrie Primary School, says the partnership between her school and Discovery Vitality reflects the importance of corporate support in educational initiatives.

“Discovery Vitality's planned lessons for teachers provide a balance between academic and physical exercise, both of which are necessary to build a nation of healthy children. Educational institutions value such corporate involvement which, with the support of teachers and parents, will help to develop the youth of South Africa in mind and body.”

Schools have already received the free-of-charge lesson plans and work sheets for Grades 1 to 9, information on physical activity and nutrition for teachers as well as suggestions for school champions to make their schools a healthy environment.

Dr Craig Nossel
Head of Vitality Wellness
011 529 2652