The New Zealand Government and Obesity..

Is there enough awareness surrounding obesity in New Zealand?

Stanton and Hills (2004) states the New Zealand government is not doing enough to help fight the obesity epidemic in New Zealand. Stanton and Hills (2004) feel that the government should be introducing more "anti-obesity" awareness within schools. This may help children to become aware of the affects and reasons behind obesity. However it seems the National government does not feel the same way as the Obesity Action Coalition's funding was cut and schools canteen healthy regulations were reversed when the National government came into power. After a long fight to have healthy canteen foods within the school setting National decided to reverse the action which left many people upset after finally starting to make healthier changes within their community.

"Check out the interview in this link"

While searching lead.com (Ministry of Education, 2010) I found there is no National policy directly on childhood obesity, however there are links to government funded websites such as: 

5 plus a day
SPARC
Mission on case study.

Physical guidelines (created by SPARC) have been put in place for children ages 5-18 years old. The guidelines are not guidelines to follow within the schools they are ideas for the home. It appears there are no guidelines for children under the age of 5 years of age, however there are a range of "activities"  such as : Rolling, crawling, walking, running, jumping and balancing. There is also a link to SPARC for more ideas.

(Ministry of Education, 2010; Ministry of Education, 2006).

Healthy eating - Healthy Action. Oranga Kia - Oranga Pumau. 

Healthy eating - Healthy Action. Oranga Kia - Oranga Pumau (HEHA) is a New Zealand health strategy from the New Zealand Government and other private and public sectors which aimed to improve nutrition, physical activity and to reduce obesity. As the Ministry of Health has admitted obesity is not an easy problem to tackle, they believe changing food and nutrition may help to change community's and peoples lifestyles (Ministry of Health, 2007). HEHA is still up and running however the network is now called "weight management".

As two out of every five deaths are due to nutrition related factors such as obesity (Ministry of Health, n/d)  I am asking myself what is our government not doing more to help prevent obesity within our society? In 2010 The Labour party announced they they would take GST on fruit and vegetables. The move was to help low income families to build better lifestyles, however John Key quickly dismissed the idea as he stated it system would be to completed ( NZPA, 2007). I believe that is vegetables and fruit were more affordable people may start buying them instead of fast foods.

There are a number of resources available to early childhood centres surrounding food and nutrition, which include recipes, information, links to Te Whariki, guidelines and breast feeding advice

Check out the book!

Over the past few weeks I have really become aware of the affects of childhood obesity. It has opened my eyes to the importance of role modeling and the support teachers can give to children and their families if they work together. I hope you have enjoyed my blog and have gained more awareness to support the fight against obesity.

Reference:

Ministry of Education. (2010). Health and PE. Retrieved 22 April, 2011, from http://www.lead.ece.govt.nz/EducateHome/learning/curriculumAndLearning/Learningresources/HealthandPE.aspx

Ministry of Education. (2006). Physical activity for healthy confident kids. Guidelines for sustainable in school communities. Wellington, New Zealand: Learning Media.

Ministry of Health. (2007). Healthy Eating - Healthy action. Oranga Kai - Oranga Pumau: Progress on implementing HEHA strategy 2007. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.

Ministry of Health. (n/d). Healthy Eating - Healthy action. Oranga Kai - Oranga Pumau.Why is nutrition, physical activity and obesity important? Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.moh.govt.nz/moh.nsf/indexmh/heha-importance

NZPA. (2010). Labour confirms GST-free fruit and vegetable policy. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.nbr.co.nz/article/labour-confirms-gst-free-fruit-and-veg-policy-130584

Stanton, R., & Hills, A. (2004). A matter of fat. Understanding and overcoming obesity in kids. Christchurch, New Zealand: Hazard Press.

Teaching and Learning..

“Preschoolers will be given regular exercise routines under a government plan to tackle childhood obesity”

(Betts & Martin, 2003).

In 2003 Sport and Recreation Minister Trevor Mallard with the support of doctors planned to implement “exercise routines” within the early childhood setting as a way to fight obesity in children under the age of five (Betts & Martin, 2003). Is that not the teacher’s job? However as I personally do not believe in set routine times, I did question the teachers/managements role in helping fight obesity. I understand that there are policies and producers put in place for teachers to support healthy eating however isn’t is there moral responsibility to do more within the early childhood setting?

As childhood obesity is growing rapidly worldwide (Rolland, Deheeger, Maillot & Bellisle) teachers within the early child hood setting should be looking at their teaching styles and ask themselves “how can we help fight the obesity epidemic”  But how do teachers practice healthy eating and physical activity if they do not know about it ? 

The heart foundation has put in place the “healthy heart award” this helps teachers practice healthy eating and physical activity with the children which is directly linked to the early childhood setting.

The healthy heart foundation aims to assists teachers to introduce healthier food choices and physical exercise. In order to make these changes teachers must work together in order to make it work. Teachers have access to resources and ideas for experiences (Ministry of Health, 1997).

As teachers are responsible for the children in their care it is important all teachers work together and implement a curriculum which provides the best care for the children within the setting (Fenney, Christensen & Moravcik, 2001). They are organisations who help work places fight obesity, for example work fit. Work fit Hawkes Bay (Part of SPARC) runs programs for work places to build more knowledge surrounding physical exercise and healthy eating by:

-Having health checks.

-Cooking classes.

-Quit smoking groups.

-Group exercise.

            As more and more early childhood settings are signing up to work fit as a result teachers are gaining more knowledge and working together which is pasted onto the children within the early childhood setting.

By gaining knowledge surrounding healthy eating and physical exercise teachers can work on teaching styles to incorporating their new knowledge into the daily running of the program.  This may include:

·         Free play outside (Even is cold weather).

·         Planning games with the children.

·         Setting up a challenging environment with opportunities for large motor skills and development.

·         Inviting the community in the setting. (Doctor, SPARC, Dentist and Sports people).

·         Healthy eating experiences (Healthy food day, Vegetable soup day and fruit days).

(Stanton & Hills, 2004).

As individual teachers hold their own pedagogical views and beliefs surrounding childhood obesity it is important that everyone is on the same page when it comes to the teaching and learning for children. In order to prevent obesity we must start early, within early childhood setting, by having teachers who support health and nutrition and set positive pathways for the children of New Zealand (Curry, 2000).  There may be no moral responsibility for teachers to help prevent obesity, it starts at home within the child'd family and whanau.

Reference List:

Betts, M., & Martin, K. (2003 Jul, 15). Problem of fat under-fives spurs exercise regime plan.Independent Newspapers, LTD. Retrieved from Pro Quest database.             http://search.proquest.com/pqcentral/docview/338040192/abstract/12F03AC79FF49AB2350/6?accountid=39646

Curry, L. (2000). Fit Kids. Keeping our kids healthy, fit and motivated. Queensland, Australia: Curry Kenny Promotions.

Heart Foundation. (2010). Healthy Heart Award for Early Childhood Education. Retrieved April 22, 2011, from http://www.heartfoundation.org.nz/index.asp?pageID=2145820300

Ministry of Health. (1997). Food and Nutrition guidelines for Healthy Children. Aged 2-12 years. Wellington, New Zealand: Ministry of Health.

Rolland, M.F., Deheeger, M., Maillot, M., & Bellisle, F. (2006, Dec). Early adiposity rebound: Causes and consequences for obesity in children and adults. Scholarly    Journal. Retrieved from Pro Quest database.             http://search.proquest.com/docview/219236828/abstract/12F043C421879A42824/1?accountid=39646ccountid=39646

Stanton, R., & Hills, A. (2004). A matter of fat. Understanding and overcoming obesity in kids. Christchurch, New Zealand: Hazard Press

Sport Hawkes Bay. (2011). What is work fit?. Retieved April 22, 2011, from             http://www.sportsground.co.nz/ClubSite.asp?SiteID=9992&PageTypeID=3&Pag  eID=33349

What are Early Childhood Settings doing to prevent obesity?

~ “More than ever, we as parents and a nation must do something about the growth of obesity in our children. We must do more than just talk, we must be concerned enough to act.” ~ Lee Haney.

                More and more children are entering the early childhood setting and I am asking myself “how are New Zealand’s early childhood settings helping fight obesity in our young children?”   

                Research shows that obesity is linked to food and beverage intake and physical activity, 75% of the food we eat is used to power our bodies which keeps our liver, heart, lungs and brain working properly (Finn, 2004). As times have changed and more and more people are entering the work setting it seems easier to give their children packet foods instead of fresh fruit and the same may be said for dinner times. Have you ever heard of “five plus a day”? The aim was to encourage the people of New Zealand to eat five or more servings of fruit and vegetables each day, however Finn (2004) states that only 46% of children in New Zealand eat 2 or more servings of fruit and a third eat three or more servings of vegetables.

                Many early childhood settings have procedures or policies in place to help teachers promote healthy eating.

                Procedures include:

-Encouraging children to make connections between healthy eating and having a healthy body bodies.

-Providing information surrounding healthy eating for parents/whanau.

-Child’s choice of fruit.

-Healthy food preparation experiences.

Having a nutrition policy allows teachers to follow guidelines which benefit the children within the early childhood setting. However as the child’s parent or caregiver are the ones packing the child’s lunch it is important to provide information surrounding healthy eating, as a reality is some families do not know about healthy eating.  Parents may have access too:

-Ngākai tōtika mō te hunga kōhungahunga. Eating for healthy babies and toddlers

-Finger food ideas for 9 months plus

-Finger food for 12 months plus

-Guide to baby feeding.

-Vegetables for your baby

-Lunch box ideas.



                Having information with your centre may help parents/caregivers to pack healthy lunches for their child and gain the knowledge that good nutrition leads to healthy bodies (Stanton & Hills, 2004).  Resources are also available for SPARC which has information surrounding active movement for children under the age of five years. SPARC will also come into early childhood centres and hold “parent evenings” which help explain the benefits of active movement to parents and whanau and provide resources to build a healthier lifestyle.

                I believe that all early childhood centres should be promoting healthy eating and

physical exercise which will help fight obesity in the young children of New Zealand.

Within Te Whaariki there is no mention of the word obesity, however there are goals within the Well-being strand which states: 

" Children will experience a place where their health is promoted"

"Increasing understanding of their bodies and how they function"

"Knowledge about how to keep themselves healthy;"

"Self-help and self-care skills for eating, drinking, food prepartion, toileting, resting, sleeping, washing, and dressing;"

"Positive attitudes towards eating, sleeping, and resting"

(Ministry of Education, 1996, p.48).

Reference List:

Finn, L. (2004). Healthy Kids. Better health for larger kids in New Zealand. Happy kids. Auckland, New Zealand: Random House New Zealand.

Stanton, R., & Hills, A. (2004). A matter of fat. Understanding and overcoming obesity in kisds. Christchurch, New Zealand: Hazard Press.

Ministry of Education. (1996). Te Whāriki: He Whāriki Mātauranga mō ngā Mokopuna o Aoteraroa/Early Childhood Curriculum.Wellington: New Zealand Learning Media.

Sport and Recreation New Zealand. (2011). Ages 0-5. Retieved April 1, 2011, from http://www.sparc.co.nz/en-nz/young-people/Ages-0-5-Years/

5+ a day. (2011). What is 5+ a day?. Retieved, April 1, 2011, from http://www.5aday.co.nz/5aday.html