Food for thought

Tuesday, April 22, 2008 | 2:05 a.m.

A two-year study of Philadelphia schoolchildren shows schools that eliminated soda pop and junk food and spent time educating children and parents about physical activity and healthy diets were able to cut by half the chance that children would be overweight by the time they reached sixth grade.

The study, headed by Temple University professor Gary Foster, was published in the April 1 edition of the journal Pediatrics. Foster’s research team chose 10 schools and randomly assigned five to adopt the study’s nutrition and education program. The other five schools did nothing different.

At the study schools, soda was replaced with water, low-fat milk and 100 percent fruit juices. Vending machines and cafeteria meals also were put on a diet, with only certain healthful options offered.

Students were taught how exercise and diet can affect their health and could earn raffle tickets for prizes, such as new bikes, by making healthy choices. The schools also hosted workshops for parents to help them encourage healthy eating habits at home.

Researchers monitored 1,349 fourth graders in the 10 schools for two years. At the end of that time, 15 percent of the children in the schools that did nothing different were overweight compared with 7.5 percent of the children whose schools adopted the study’s nutrition program.

Foster told Reuters news service the results illustrate that a comprehensive approach that involves parents and makes certain that all food choices at school are healthy ones is effective. Taking only one action, such as removing soda machines, likely would not result in a similar outcome, Foster said.

More than likely, it was not easy to make such drastic changes. Schools depend on vending machine sales to buy supplies, and many children will balk at not being able to purchase their favorite goodies. Still, this study suggests that, over time, children can lead a healthier lifestyle especially when they are given healthy choices.