K class fall 2009 Class of 2022

K class fall 2010 Class of 2023

K class fall 2011 Class of 2024

K class fall 2012 Class of 2025

K class fall 2013 Class of 2026

K class fall 2014 Class of 2027

BMI was calculated for the graduating classes of 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and 2026 (each class size is between 120-130 students). The graph above shows that between the Classes of 2022 - 2024 there has been an increase of 10% in children in the overweight or obese category. Based on BMI data of 6th grade students, it is expected that at least 30% of these Kindergarten students will remain or will be overweight or obese by the end of their 6th grade year.

• Technology – The lure of computers, video games and TV has created a generation of children who typically spend four to six hours per day in front of screens, isolating them from other children and from the outdoors.
• Safety concerns – Many parents have safety concerns for unsupervised, outdoor play (on the playground or walking to a friend’s house).
• Family meals – over scheduling for children and adults has lead to decreases in family mealtime and increased consumption of “supersized” fast foods.
• Nutrition – Children are consuming too much sugar. The added sugar takes on the form of flavored milk, sugared cereals, breakfast bars and juice and sports drinks or juice. Children are not getting enough whole fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.

Research shows:

• The link between parent and child obesity is likely to be both genetic and environmental. While parents cannot control genetics, they can however create important aspects of the child’s environment, including foods choices and physical activity.

• Children whose families are food insecure are more likely to be at risk of overweight or obesity as compared to children whose families are food secure (Casey, P.H., et.al., Child Health-Related Quality of Life and Household Food Security. Pediatric Adolescence Med, 2005)

• Poor nutrition and lack of physical activity may lead to lower academic achievement.

To gain a baseline understanding on how Coventry children fare in relation to healthy eating and active living, Coventry parents were given an initial, informal survey with a tool based on the 9-5-2-1-0 for Health Campaign (see Appendix for survey). Of the 125 respondents when asked these two questions around nutritious eating, they responded:

How many approximate servings of fruits and vegetables do your children comsume each day?

Families

Parks and Recreation

Schools

Eastern Highlands Health District

Women, Infants and Children (WIC)

School Food Services

School Wellness Committee

Farmers Market

Churches

Human Services