April 27, 2005
Program makes strides against obesity
Every Step Counts program offers activities for children at WJH each Saturday
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Taking strides against childhood obesity, 65 people attended the Every Step Counts program.
Held Saturday morning at West Junior High School, the program introduced children and their families to the basics of wrestling and yoga. They later snacked on fruit juice spritzers and fresh fruit while learning about healthy snacks they could make at home.
The program is part on an ongoing 11-week Saturday series that will introduce children to a variety of physical activities and nutrition concepts. Running through May 21, future sessions include retro games, kite flying and outdoor games.
"It's a great program, we try to come every Saturday," said Tom Walczak, who brought his son Sam, 10 and daughter Megan, 2. "They do a great job."
Every Step Counts is funded by a three-year $1 million grant from the United States Department of Education with a goal of increasing the physical activity of children and improving their nutritional choices. The program includes activities before, during and after the school day to get kids moving, such as lunchtime activities in the gym; nutrition education; and professional development for physical education staff in the Traverse Bay Intermediate School District.
Grant coordinator Patti Tibaldi, who is also the athletic director for West High School, said the district had unsuccessfully applied for a one-year grant two years in a row. Applying again and receiving the three-year grant this time meant creating a concrete plan for community activities and having statistics to back up the need.
These statistics came from a recent study where 40 percent of K-6th grade students in the Traverse City Area Public Schools had body mass indexes that were obese or at risk of obesity. A second study showed that 40 percent of randomly selected students were below grade level for cardiovascular fitness.
Tibaldi believes that, in addition to reflecting Michigan's overall trends, these numbers indicate the area's unique situation.
"We're surrounded by water with no pools, we have beautiful hiking trails and all these outdoor opportunities but we have winter for seven months of the year and that's very limiting," she noted. "We have only one Y with very limited facilities and we don't have access to our facilities because they are mostly public schools and somebody has to pay to have them open."
Tibaldi terms the statistics on obesity and fitness a crisis. She hopes that the Every Step Counts program can help students in the region avoid lifetime limitations and illness caused by obesity.
"My hope is that the community will start to take responsibility to address the issue and when the grant is over, there will be a commitment to sustain the programs," Tibaldi said.
Saturday Every Step Counts Events are free and open to students in the TBA Intermediate School District. They run from 9:30-noon at West Junior High School. An open gym for basketball will be available as well as the following scheduled programs:
- April 30-Retro games/obstacle course
- May 7-Kite flying/picnic
- May 14-Outdoor games/tennis/golf
- May 21-Kickoff to Let's Get Moving Michigan