March 6, 2008 - March is National Nutrition Month – a campaign created by the American Dietetic Association (ADA) to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. During National Nutrition Month, the ADA encourages consumers to look beyond the myths of nutrition and focus on the facts, including:
· Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated and using Mypyramid.gov can help individuals develop a personalized plan for lifelong health;
· Balancing physical activity and a healthful diet is the best recipe for controlling weight and promoting overall health and fitness; and
· No single food or meal determines a healthful diet. A total and varied diet is the most important focus for healthful eating.
Nowadays many students do not follow those guidelines. For instance, many adolescents skip breakfast. Studies have shown that skipping breakfast can decrease students’ ability to pay attention in class. A new report released by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health’s Project “Eating Among Teens” (EAT) found further evidence to support daily breakfast for youth. Researchers looked at the association between breakfast frequency and five-year body weight change in more than 2,200 adolescents. The results show that daily breakfast eaters consumed a healthier diet and were more physically active than those who skipped breakfast during adolescence.
National School Breakfast Week is being celebrated this week (March 3 – 7). Promoted by the School Nutrition Association (SNA), this campaign’s slogan is “Fuel Your Imagination” with the goal of educating students about the importance of eating breakfast. These messages should be reinforced throughout the school year.
Tell Students about the Importance of a Healthy Diet in Combating Diseases Like Diabetes
Celebrate American Diabetes Alert Day on March 25
When promoting National Nutrition Month among students it is also important to highlight healthy eating as an essential means to fight off diseases. According to the American Diabetes Association, one in five Americans is at risk for developing type 2 diabetes – a disease that is often fueled by unhealthy eating and being overweight or obese.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008 is American Diabetes Alert Day, a one-day “wake-up” call to inform Americans about the seriousness of diabetes. People are encouraged to take the Diabetes Risk Test. The test requires users to answer seven questions about weight, age, lifestyle, and family history. Individuals scoring 10 points or more are at high risk for type 2 diabetes and are encouraged to see a doctor for further evaluation.
For additional information about National Nutrition Month, please visit the American Dietetic Association website at http://www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/index.html. For more information about American Diabetes Alert Day, please visit the American Diabetes Association at http://www.diabetes.org/home.jsp. The University of Minnesota study “Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT” was published in the March edition of Pediatrics.
Source: American Diabetes Association website, American Dietetic Association website, School Nutrition Association website, and USDA Press Release on the University of Minnesota study “Breakfast Eating and Weight Change in a 5-Year Prospective Analysis of Adolescents: Project EAT”, March 3, 2008.