their young adult lives, the nutritional
etables at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue),
tale of Eric and Jimmy may speak
Mrs. Obama’s garden became the vis-
more to family genetics than their
ible launch site for her childhood
early eating habits.
nutrition and fitness initiatives.
Much has transpired in the decade
There have been signs of improved
since the series was published, so
child nutrition. Most recently, a fed-
much so that childhood obesity, nutri-
eral report showed a stunning 43 per-
t hardly seems possible that our
tion, fitness, and wellness have become
cent drop in the obesity rate among
year-long series, “Weighing Health-
a cottage industry. That’s why we
2- to 5-year-old children. While that
ier Options,” was published in The
thought this year was a perfect mile-
is certainly great news, it doesn’t tell
Illinois School Board Journal 10 years
stone to check in on the latest devel-
the whole story. One of the articles
ago. To begin the series, we profiled
opments. For this issue of The Journal,
in this issue, “Hungry in Illinois,”
two typical seventh-grade boys – best
we asked two organizations – Action
reports that very young students
friends with decidedly different builds
for Healthy Kids and the Healthy
remain the most vulnerable to food
and different eating patterns. Of the
Schools Campaign, both headquar-
insecurity (see Page 8, and the side-
two 13-year-olds, Jimmy was medi-
tered in Chicago – to bring us up-to-
bar, “Rebooting cafeteria programs,”
um height and underweight accord-
date and provide a look to the future
Page 10).
ing to his body mass index (BMI),
about where these issues are head-
No one should assume that these
while Eric was taller and slightly over-
ed (See “Concerted effort needed to
issues are the exclusive responsibil-
weight, based on his BMI.
make all kids healthy, hunger-free,”
ity of public schools. In our regular
Page 14, and “Illinois adopts ‘enhanced
feature, Practical PR, one suburban
P.E.’ standards,” Page 24).
Chicago district reviews what it is
I
In the intervening 10 years, after completing their secondary and postsecondary education goals, the boys
Childhood obesity has certain-
doing to help students and parents
didn’t see each other as often, but
ly grabbed its share of the headlines.
to understand their role in the quest
remained friends. Both have grown
First Lady Michelle Obama received
to improve childhood nutrition and
taller; Jimmy from 5 feet 2 inches to
a lot of attention from her “Let’s Move”
fitness (see “Talking to students, par-
about 5 feet 10 inches. He still has
campaign, which was launched in
ents about nutrition,” Page 6.)
a slight build, despite his early pen-
2010. Her goal was to unite the coun-
Finally, if you are new to school
chant for Doritos and soda. Eric, mean-
try around children’s health and
board service or are not familiar with
while, grew about five inches and now
encourage families to live healthier
the original series, you can catch up
is more than 6 feet tall. He eats a lot
lives. She also gained publicity when
with the work that began IASB’s inter-
of broiled chicken and likes vegeta-
she broke ground on a White House
est in childhood obesity, nutrition
bles. Eric also works out on a regu-
vegetable garden. Although she is not
and fitness issues, by reading “’Weigh-
lar basis with a personal trainer, but
the first among the First Ladies to do
ing Healthier Options’ Revisited”
his BMI still hovers closer to over-
so (Abigail Adams, Eleanor Roosevelt
(Page 21).
weight than ideal. At this point in
and Hillary Clinton also grew veg-
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