Institute of Medicine Recommends Nutrition
Overcoming Child Obesity by F&EG Staff -5/2007-
Urged by increasing concerns over obesity, national attention has focused on the need to establish school nutrition standards and limit access to competitive foods during and after school and in fundraising. Unfortunatetly the feedback from school districts show that they are not meeting wellness policy requirements, nor have they been consistent.
In an effort to address the health of our youth and make appropriate nutrition recommendations, Congress directed the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) to undertake a study with the IOM (Institute of Medicine). The study included a review of appropriate nutritional stands for the availability, sale, content and consumption of foods at school, with attention to competitive foods.
According to the IOM, there has been a rise in child obesity for the past 2 decades and children in the United States are becoming more overweight and obese, putting them at risk for serious health concerns such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and elevated cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
They attribute this problem largely to the traditional breakfast and lunch options and the increase in poor ‘competitive’ food choices in school, after school and in fundraising programs. Competitive foods come from a number of sources including a’ la carte style cafeterias, school stores, snack bars and vending machines. The available food and drink options contribute an excess amount of calories to their total daily consumption.
Establishing Criteria
In order to establish the criteria for the recommendations of healthy eating enviornments for U.S. school children, the IOM created a list of ‘Guiding Principles,’ dividing them into two sections, Recognitions and Intentions. Included in the Recognition section was recognizing the need of future health and well-being of school-age children who are profoundly affected by dietary intake.
Among other points, the Intentions section stated that all foods and beverages offered on the school campus should contribute to healthy eating habits.
Nutrition Recommendations
Findings and recommendations on the study were reported in a document entitled, Nutrition Standards for Foods in Schools: Leading the Way toward Healthier Youth. It was released in April of this year and concluded the following:
- Federally-reimbursable school nutrition programs should be the main source of nutrition at school;
- Opportunities for competitive foods should be limited; and,
- If competitive foods are available, they should consist of nutritious fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat milk and dairy products, as consistent with the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA).
Guidelines in marketing food and beverages at school and implementing nutrition standards in school were recommended.
The IOM recomended trimming an excess of the following in school foods and beverages: dietary sugars, added sugars, nonnutritive sweetners and soda, flavor, fortified and carbinated waters and sports drinks and banning caffeine in schools. They also recommended limiting after school snacks to 200 calories per portion.
Strong suggestions about fundraising products were recommended indicating that fundraising should be done with healthy foods and drinks, and include other inedible products.
In agreement with much of IOM’s recommendations, the AFRDS (Association of Fundraising Distributors and Direct Suppliers) had some reservations.
In regards to IOM’s fundraising recommendations, AFRDS states “efforts by school and government officials should be focused on where they can be most effective providing sound nutrition advice, encouraging exercise and offering an array of nutritional foods for consumption by students on school grounds.
In that regard, we agree with the IOM’s conclusion that placing restrictions on evening and community fundraising activities would be impractical. Limiting choices for fundraising sales made off school grounds, choices largely made by adults, will not address the nation’s childhood obesity issue. Rather it will serve only to further another crisis: inadequate funding of education.”
Overall the IOM recommendations are aimed at insuring increased health and encouraging a greater consumption of fruits vegetables, whole grains, non-fat or low fat dairy products, much like a vegetarian diet. The audio web cast from the public briefing can be accessed through the following link: http://www.nap.edu/webcast/webcast_list.php. or visit the IOM website at www.iom.edu
