A look at the numbers
In order to grow, learn, and thrive, children need access to healthful
foods, opportunities to be physically active and the tools to support
healthy decision-making. Yet local data suggest there is more work to be done
to promote health among our student population:
- Obesity
During the 2007/2008 school year, 41% of Sarasota County public
school 6th graders were overweight or obese; 35% of high school students
fell into one of these two categories. These data are consistent with
trends nationwide which reveal that obesity rates have doubled in
children and tripled in adolescents over the last two decades. Physical
inactivity and excessive calorie intake are the predominant causes of
obesity.
- Physical Activity
Though 72% of middle students had participated in vigorous physical
activity for at least 20 minutes on at least 3 of the seven days
preceding the survey, 25% of students also reported having watched 3 or
more hours of television on an average school day.
- Substance Abuse
33% of
Sarasota County high school students reported
using tobacco and 25% reported binge drinking (5 or more drinks at on
time) in the last 30 days. 19% of high school students reported using
marijuana during the same time frame.
12% of Sarasota County middle school students had 5 or
more drinks of alcohol in one day within the past year.
Body Mass Index (BMI) Results - Sarasota County Students
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