About the Challenge
An Urgent Situation
In 2000, a Newsweek cover story referred to Type II Diabetes as the "next great lifestyle disease epidemic", and also noted that diabetes is more specifically becoming "a disease of the young". Closely related to increasing rates of obesity, currently over 2 million Canadians have diabetes and that number is expected to rise to 3 million by the end of the decade. Some reports now claim that for children born after 2000, the estimated lifetime risk for diabetes is more than 1 in 3.
The costs of childhood obesity and diabetes are massive. Childhood obesity is linked to Type II Diabetes, high blood pressure, skeletal muscle problems, arthritis and cancer, whereas diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, eye disease, nerve damage, and premature death. The emotional/social consequences of childhood obesity can include low self-esteem, depression, discrimination and bullying. At the financial level, diabetes and its complications cost the Canadian healthcare system an estimated $13.2 billion every year.
Lifestyle and environmental factors play a critical role in the prevalence of both of these afflictions in children:- Lack of exercise - urban designs that discourage walking and other physical
activities; decreased opportunities for physical activity at school and after school; increased time watching television or playing computer/video games
- Poor nutrition - family efforts to minimize food costs and acquisition/preparation time result in frequent consumption of "convenient" foods that are high in sugars, calories and fats; reduced access to fruits, vegetables and other nutritious foods, particularly within the schools (e.g. vending machines).
In addition, these factors are also closely tied to a number of learning/behavioural disorders such as Attention Deficit Disorder. Not only is the health of Canadian children at stake, but so is their ability to learn.
Creating a Healthier Future
Recognizing the importance of developing healthy habits early in life, the Victoria School Wellness Challenge was designed to give children a hands-on approach to getting active and eating well, learning about the importance of creating a healthy lifestyle, and having fun. The program builds on the Healthy Schools’ emphasis on exercise and proper nutrition, with the understanding that healthy children are better able to learn, and that schools can directly influence children’s health. The program also complements the Healthy Schools initiative by building in community support, and fostering a sense of teamwork and accomplishment in children as they work to reach a common goal. The 30 day timeline and additional incentives within the program model are specifically designed to keep kids focused and motivated throughout the challenge period.
The wins for classes/schools that participate include:
- Integration of proper exercise and nutrition into the classroom to help alleviate behavioral issues, enhance children's ability to concentrate and learn, and improving each child's overall health (less sick days equals more time in the classroom).
- Building a sense of teamwork, community and accomplishment in the classroom.
- Opportunity to receive donated prizes from the community to help support other health-related activities and initiatives for the school.
- Additional educational elements of the program, including geography (Canadian content) and math (compiling pedometer data).
Special Thanks
We would like to recognize the following individuals for their extra efforts and support in helping to transform the Victoria School Wellness Challenge from a concept into a reality:
| Wendy Eckardt Roz Eckardt Dr. Lara Lauzon Heather Hoult Jason Guille Trina Sporer Darcee Diamond Scott Sulz Erin Smith Andy Chow Ian MacPherson |
Mick Eckardt |
| EDS Advanced Solutions Social Charity Community Committee | |
Resources:
- Canadian Diabetes Association
- Table To Grave Special Report by the San Bernardino Sun