VANCOUVER -- More and more children are being referred to BC Children's Hospital because of problems with weight - they're either obese or underweight. We know this can lead to diabetes, heart disease and a host of other health problems later in life. To stop this trend, BC Children's Hospital together with teachers have come up with a program called Healthy Buddies. It was piloted on the Sunshine Coast and results have been so impressive, it'll now be brought to many other schools.
Even though they're three grades apart, and go to different schools now, Matt and Ben are good friends. They were paired up two years ago in their elementary school as part of the Healthy Buddy program, targeting body image, nutrition and physical activity.
Matt Brown says, "the teachers would teach you stuff and then you would go teach all your buddies."
Ben Eaton comments, "it felt great. You learned tons of stuff from a kid around your age instead of somebody who was way older than you."
Through games, interviews, art projects and presentations, the children learned about healthy eating, healthy body image and healthy activity.
Valerie Ryden is a Teacher and Program Developer. She says, "we never foccussed in the program on weight per se, we focussed on qualities, inner qualities and on how to start where you are right now, whatever size or shape you are, whatever level of health you have. Start right now and take baby steps toward a healthier life."
Matt Brown really didn't know that much about the foods before he started the program. Now, he knows there are really healthy foods that are good for him. Like instead of grabbing a chocolate bar, he'll grab an orange and slice it up.
Ben learned that you have to eat healthy, move vigourously and feel good about yourself to be healthy.
DR SUE STOCK, PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST, SAYS, "OUR INTERVENTIONS SCHOOL THAT RECEIVED THE CURRICULUM SHOWED AN IMPROVEMENT IN KNOWLEDGE. THEY ALSO SHOWED AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR HEALTHY BEHAVIOURS, THINGS LIKE BEING ACTIVE ON A MORE REGULAR BASIS AND LESS TIME WATCHING TV AND THAT KIND OF THING, AND THERE WAS ALSO AN IMPROVEMENT IN THEIR BODY COMPOSITION AND BLOOD PRESSURE."
And there was another spinoff:
Ben thinks it made less bullies on the playground. More kids got together and stuck up for each other.
Matt agrees, "not only do you get to play and learn all the healthy living, like eating right and doing right stuff and being positive, but you got to meet new friends and stuff, so its really good."
In the next two school years, forty elementary schools across BC will be chosen to take part in the program. If you'd like more information, you can go to healthybuddies-dot ca. This program all started because one Sunshine Coast resident was worried about the prevalence of eating disorders in schools. So this shows how one person can really make a difference.
Wednesday February 1, 2006
