ERIC Number: EJ1047231
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2014
Pages: 4
Abstractor: ERIC
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
The Role of Out-of-School Time in Reducing Hunger and Preventing Obesity
Hatcher, Daniel W.; FitzSimons, Crystal Weedall; Turley, Jill R.
Afterschool Matters, n20 p9-12 Fall 2014
One in three children in this country is overweight or obese. One in five children lives in food-insecure households that struggle to put food on the table. Both problems affect millions of children. Both can occur in the same child at the same time. Both are linked to poor academic performance, behavior problems, and high rates of school absenteeism. To address these issues, the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Out-of-School Time initiative has been working since 2011 in eight cities to support the adoption of the National Afterschool Association's healthy eating and physical activity (HEPA) standards by before-school, afterschool, and summer programs. This article explains the link between childhood hunger and obesity, describes the importance of high-quality nutrition education, highlights evidence of success from the Healthy Out-of-School Time Initiative, and discusses ways to engage youth in implementing the HEPA standards.
Descriptors: Obesity, Food, Hunger, Low Achievement, Behavior Problems, Attendance, Health Promotion, After School Programs, Eating Habits, Physical Activity Level, Summer Programs, Nutrition, Nutrition Instruction, Athletics, Youth Programs, Participation, Children, Youth, Child Health
National Institute on Out-of-School Time. Wellesley Centers for Women, 106 Central Street, Wellesley, MA 02481. Tel: 781-283-2547; Fax: 781-283-3657; e-mail: niost@wellesley.edu; Web site: http://www.niost.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: California; Louisiana; Pennsylvania
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A