BINGHAMTON, NY - In recognition of the Johnson City Central School District's commitment, perseverance and leadership in the area of health and wellness, the Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY initiative will present Superintendent Larry Rowe with an honorary flag on Thursday, June 30, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. at the Johnson City Elementary-Middle School, 601 Columbia Drive, Johnson City.

The Johnson City (J.C.) Wildcats have been instrumental in collaborating with the Steps to a HealthierNY initiative to reduce the burden of obesity, asthma and diabetes in their school community, by implementing nutrition and wellness programs and instituting policies that promote healthy living.

Poor diet and inadequate physical activity are the second leading cause of death in the United States and together account for at least 300,000 deaths annually. According to the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions in the United States. The Johnson City Central School District has been a leader in our community in addressing both of these serious issues.

This is particularly important because the Centers for Disease Control warns that one in three children born in the United States in 2000 will become diabetic unless many more people start eating less and exercising more. There are twice as many overweight children and almost three times as many overweight adolescents as there were in 1980. In 2000, 15% of children aged 6 to 11 were overweight and nearly 16% of adolescents were overweight (2003 Action for Healthy Kids).

With a very active wellness committee of dedicated school administrators, food service management, health related teaching professionals and community partners, the J.C. Wildcats have been a role model for school communities throughout Broome County, New York State, and the nation.

Some of the school district's accomplishments include setting nutrition policies to increase opportunities for faculty, staff and students to get their five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and decrease the number of unhealthy options available in their cafeterias. School district staff who took part in the Steps to a HealthierNY Mission Meltaway program, an eight week healthy weight management education program, lost over 150 pounds collectively. The wellness committee continues to run a very active healthy weight education program.

Several faculty, staff and students have enrolled in the community-wide walking programs, B.C. Walks and B.C. Walks, Jr. The school district has mapped a walking trail inside their school for the J.C. Wildcats to walk during free time before, during, and after school. "Nearly 200 studies on the effects of exercise on cognitive functioning suggest that physical activity supports learning" (Action for Healthy Kids 2003). The Wildcats' most recent recognition came from the "J.C. Wildcat Adventure" after school program that has collaborated with the Broome County YMCA and instituted nutrition and physical activity policies for students. It has been determined that providing more time for physical activity can lead to increased test scores, particularly in the area of mathematics. Physical activity programs have also been linked to stronger academic achievement, increased concentration, and improved math, reading, and writing test scores (Action for Healthy Kids 2003). "I feel the success and improvement in Johnson City schools can be attributed to changes in nutrition and physical activity programs in the district. Healthier kids are better thinkers," said J.C. Superintendent Larry Rowe.

The Wildcats have been a leader in the American Lung Association's asthma management and education program Open Airways. This program teaches children, aged 8-11, how to detect the warning signs of asthma, including the environmental factors that can trigger an attack.

According to Action for Healthy Kids, healthcare costs, absenteeism, and lower productivity due to the effects of poor nutrition, inactivity and overweight among school employees is one of the many hidden costs to school districts. The Johnson City Central School District has been able to slow the rise in employees' insurance premiums. "In a recent consolidation study that looked at health care premiums paid over the past three years for schools in Broome County, Johnson City was 20-30% lower, which attests to J.C.'s commitment to health and wellness for staff," said Superintendent Larry Rowe.

To learn more about the Broome County Health Department's Steps to a HealthierNY initiative and how your school can participate in its programs contact Mary McFadden by phone at 607.778.3929 or e-mail at mmcfadden@co.broome.ny.us.

Steps to a HealthierNY is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as part of Steps to a HealthierUS, a national program focusing on the prevention of diabetes, obesity and asthma and the control of risk factors including poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure. For more information about the Steps to a HealthierNY, please visit www.broomesteps.org or call 607.778.3929.

Steps to a HealthierUS is a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) initiative advancing the HealthierUS goal to help Americans live longer, better and healthier lives. This initiative will reduce the burden of chronic diseases including diabetes, obesity and asthma and the control of risk factors including poor nutrition, physical inactivity and tobacco use and exposure through funding of community-based interventions. www.healthierus.gov/steps

CONTACT:
Mary McFadden, Supervising Public Health Educator
Broome County Health Department: 607.778.3929
email: mmcfadden@co.broome.ny.us

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