April 2003

Antronette Yancey, M.D., UCLA, and chair of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Integration Committee for the Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section of the California Department of Health Services, demonstrates part of her new "Fuel Up, Lift Off" program at Public Health Week.

“Living Healthy California Style,” our state’s theme for this year’s National Public Health Week (April 7-13), was celebrated on April 9 by California’s Department of Health Services on the grounds of the State Capitol in Sacramento. This year’s focus was California’s epidemic of overweight and obesity, with the goals of educating adults and children about the health risks associated with this fast-growing epidemic and presenting ways for them to shape up by eating healthy and staying active.

Thousands came for events, presentations and activities that focused on five key strategies to improving California’s health:

• Increasing physical fitness opportunities for kids
• Promoting healthier living through better community design, including more walking paths, bike lanes and parks
• Offering better opportunities for fitness and healthy eating in the workplace
• Serving up more nutritious options in schools
• Providing healthier dining options in local restaurants and markets

In addition to a presentation of awards to outstanding employees and programs, the celebration included a variety of special guests. DHS Director Diana Bontá, R.N., Dr.P.H., spoke of the need to create healthy environments to support individuals in living healthier lives. Antronette Yancey, M.D., of UCLA presented exercises from her “Fuel up, Lift Off” video series, which demonstrates aerobic activity suitable for various audiences. The Western Growers Association distributed fresh fruits and veggies for participants, while Izzy the Immunization Bear (from the Division of Communicable Disease Control) and the Dole^® Banana enticed kids to be healthy.

For resources and information on overweight and obesity, visit the Web site of the UC Berkeley Center for Weight and Health at http://nature.berkeley.edu/cwh.

Lottie Cleveland, project coordinator, Brian Micek, Hill and Knowlton, and YMCA staff (left to right) celebrate at the first Be Active Campaign launch event in Los Angeles.

The California 5 a Day Be Active Campaign held the first of three launch events in South Los Angeles on April 5 at the Weingart YMCA. More than 300 participants enjoyed free oranges, apples and bananas donated by Albertsons, as well nutrition education activities and a wide collection of educational booths and demonstrations.

Held in conjunction with the YMCA’s “Healthy Kids Day,” the Be Active launch event encouraged women to strive to be more physically active with line dancing, swimming and basketball skills competitions. Kids at the event enjoyed a host of activities supplied by the crew of the VERB Van (http://www.verbnow.com/), including physical activity ideas, stickers and giveaways. After working up a sweat along with their appetites, participants enjoyed food demonstrations by a local chef, who prepared healthy and delicious vegetable quesadillas, fruit smoothies and a soy-based onion dip. Los Angeles City Councilman Bernard Parks recognized the contribution of the Weingart YMCA and the California 5 a Day Campaign to the well-being of Los Angelinos with certificates.

The next two launch events take place in Riverside on May 17 and over Memorial Day weekend in Oakland on May 24. For more information or to participate, contact Michelle Oppen at moppen@dhs.ca.gov.

The Warriors’ 5 a Day Challenge wrapped up the 2003 regular basketball season with activities at schools and Albertsons stores throughout the Bay Area. The Challenge encouraged kids to eat fruits and vegetables and play actively every day in exchange for great prizes featuring the starting five players for the Golden State Warriors.

A Warriors/5 a Day Web site features information on the Challenge, informational games and puzzles. The NBA, impressed by the program, promoted it as one of their March featured activities. To access the page, go to http://www.nba.com/ warriors/ mascot/ thunder_kids_page_index.html.

The Warriors will also be participating in the May 24 Be Active launch event in Oakland (see previous article).

The California Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey (CalCHEEPS) is the only ongoing study of its kind in our state. Initiated to support the program development efforts of the California Children’s 5 a Day—Power Play! Campaign, the survey fills the gaps in current research on the diet and exercise practices of 9-11 year old children.

“We focus on 9-11 year olds because it is a transitional time for kids. It’s when they start to make their own food decisions and when long-term health beliefs are established,” said Angie Keihner, a research associate with the Public Health Institute and the CalCHEEPS project lead.

The study, which began in 1999 and has been conducted every two years since, involves a mail survey, food and exercise diary and follow-up telephone interview. Among the 1999 CalCHEEPS findings was the startling indication that over one-third of the children surveyed were overweight or at risk for overweight. Overweight children also ate fewer servings of fruits and vegetables each day, drank more servings of soda and sweetened beverages and were more likely to have eaten high-fat snacks.

“It’s disappointing, especially when you consider that the numbers of servings of fruits and vegetables eaten each day decreased even more when French fries were taken out as an option,” said Keihner. “Kids are simply eating too little of what they need the most these days, putting them at greater risk for type 2 diabetes and other adult diseases.”

The data also showed that nutrition education plays a significant role in helping children meet dietary and physical activity recommendations for good health, which include eating 5 or more servings of fruits and vegetables and getting 60 minutes of physical activity every day. The Power Play! Campaign uses the CalCHEEPS results, in combination with other research, to guide state and regional efforts to improve the fruit and vegetable consumption and physical activity levels of California’s 9-11 year old children.

CalCHEEPS is conducted by the Cancer Prevention and Nutrition Section of the California Department of Health Services, funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program and The California Endowment, and administered by the Public Health Institute. A copy of the Special Report on Policy Implications from the 1999 California Children’s Healthy Eating and Exercise Practices Survey can be downloaded at http://www.calendow.org.

Hunger advocates, including several of our Food Security Task Force projects, will participate in Hunger Action Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento, May 12, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

On June 3 in Fresno the California Latino 5 a Day Campaign will hold a press conference and unveil new mural art created in honor of the first Latino Health Awareness Month.

National 5 A Day Week, September 21-27, will be celebrated throughout California.

For more information, call (916) 327-5489.

Visit our Web site at www.dhs.ca.gov/CPNS
or call 1-888-EAT-FIVE

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This publication is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food Stamp Program, an equal opportunity employer and provider, through the California Nutrition Network for Healthy, Active Families. For information about the California Food Stamp Program, please call 1-800-952-5253.