Healthy Heart Beats

October-December 2007
Vol 29, Issue 4

Resources

Portion Size Quiz

Do you REALLY know how much you eat? The University of Nebraska-Lincoln Extension in Lancaster County has put together a short 6-question quiz on portion size based on the research of Brian Wansink, Ph.D., and director of the Cornell University Food and Brand Lab. "Most of us don't overeat because we're hungry," says Dr. Wansink in his book, Mindless Eating: Why We Eat More Than We Think. Dr. Wansink suggests we overeat by as much as 20 percent because we are influenced by family, friends, packaging, plates, labeling, shapes, distances and containers. Those extra calories can add up, too.

Take the quiz at http://lancaster.unl.edu/food/fta-s07.shtml.

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Trust for America's Health Releases 2007 "F as in Fat" Report

F as in Fat report Trust for America's Health (TFAH) released its fourth annual F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America, 2007 report which indicates that 66 percent of adult Americans are overweight or obese. Obesity rates have continued to rise in 31 states over the past year. Colorado and Massachusetts are the only states with adult obesity rates less than 20 percent. In 1991, none of the states exceeded 20 percent.

The F as in Fat report, which is made possible through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, encompasses an overview of obesity rates and related trends, identifies federal and state obesity-related legislation and initiatives, and provides an analysis of physical activity. It also includes the results of two surveys-an expert survey on future strategies to combat obesity and a public opinion survey about obesity and strategies for reversing current trends. Additionally, the report includes recommendations for combating obesity at the federal, state, community, and individual level.

To view the entire report, click here. To view an interactive map of states' obesity related facts from 2006, click here.

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Heart Healthy and Stroke Free: A Social Environment Handbook

Heart Healthy and Stroke Free: A Social Environment Handbook includes specific strategies for identifying the barriers and health-promoting aspects for heart-healthy and stroke-free living in local environments. Written for a broad audience (e.g. concerned community and state leaders along with public health professionals) it focuses on the connections between the social environment and the prevention and treatment of heart disease and stroke. All of the specific examples, tables, and worksheets relate directly to heart disease and stroke risk factors, prevention challenges, and treatment issues. The chapters in this handbook are organized into three sections:

Aspects of the social environment important for heart-healthy and stroke-free communities.
Practical community assessment methods.
Worksheets that can be photocopied along with a list of resources.

Access the handbook here: http://www.cdc.gov/dhdsp/library/seh_handbook/index.htm

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Low Literacy Health Education Materials

Think Healthy! The Children's Health Fund has made available low-literacy health education materials to help children and their families learn about health related topics. Available in English and Spanish, the booklets are culturally relevant. The materials make vital health information accessible to children, teenagers, parents and other care givers. As an example Think Healthy! helps children and their families understand the connection between eating well and feeling good. Access the materials directly at: http://www.childrenshealthfund.org/publications/healthed.php#thinkHealthy.

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Childhood Obesity Video

Food & Fitness Matter: Raising Healthy, Active Kids is a video that addresses childhood obesity. The video presents:

practical tips for parents to improve diet and fitness at home;
profiles of schools and districts that successfully switched to healthier foods;
inspiration for parents to join together and press for changes in their schools.

The video is available for $10.00 at:
http://store.parentsactionstore.org/prostores/servlet/Detail?no=647.

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Instructional Materials for Adolescent and School Health

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has developed a wide variety of science-based and other instructional materials that can help schools enhance existing health education curriculum and instruction. CDC's School Health Education Resources (SHER) is a unique, user-friendly web tool that consolidates these resources in one convenient location. SHER helps Pre-K-12 classroom teachers, school nurses, counselors, curriculum directors, and school administrators easily locate CDC's health education resources.

SHER features instructional materials aligned with the National Health Education Standards, Second Edition, 2007, and CDC's Characteristics of Effective Health Education Curriculum. The online database is searchable by:

Health education topics commonly found in a comprehensive school health education curriculum.
Four types of resources (curriculum and lessons, teacher instructional materials, student materials, and fact sheets).
Grade level groupings (Pre-K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12).

Visit CDC's SHER online at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/SHER.

healthy heart beats