Special Report on Childhood Obesity Puts Spotlight on School Leaders

February 5, 2009—A special report in the February 2009 issue of the American School Board Journal highlights ways in which school leaders can support wellness and combat childhood obesity in their districts.

The special report contains three articles that explore the role of school leadership in addressing school wellness and childhood obesity. The articles cover topics including: Advocating for School Wellness, Building Community Partnerships, and Ensuring Sustainability.  According to the report, school leaders play a critical role in championing initiatives in their districts that improve the school environment to encourage healthy eating and physical activity among their students and staff.  In order to effectively develop and implement such initiatives they can draw upon a variety of resources, including local and national partners, and should take the steps necessary to incorporate wellness into their district’s culture.  The report highlights specific examples of champions and partnerships, and also outlines specific steps districts can take to improve the sustainability of wellness and obesity initiatives.

With more than 23 million children and adolescents nationwide overweight or obese, education policymakers at the local, state, and national level can play an important role in developing school policies to promote healthy eating and active living.  Improper nutrition, inadequate physical activity and an unhealthy weight have been linked to decreased academic performance.  Conversely, students who are well-fed and active have been shown to demonstrate improved classroom behavior and experience a host of other emotional and social benefits.

To access the special report, click here.  To learn more about NSBA’s work on childhood obesity, visit the NSBA School Health Programs website.

This special report was published with support from Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC), a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  LHC supports local and state government leaders nationwide in their efforts to reduce childhood obesity through public policies that promote healthy eating, active living, and healthy social environments, particularly among vulnerable populations.  For more information, visit the LHC website.