Pocono News Section

Study Shows PA Students are Obese

Study Shows PA Students are Obese - Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 5:00PM EST

WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY -- Several groups recently studied the Body Mass Index of Pennsylvania students in grades Kindergarten through six, and 32 percent of them were declared overweight.

"I think the problem is two-fold," said Cindy Grubb, an R. N. with Geisinger, which helped conduct the study. "Food and nutrition definitely has a higher fat and sugar content. And children are also spending way too much time in front of the computer and TV screens.

The statewide average of overweight elementary-aged students is 32, but that number climbs to 37 percent in Luzerne County.

"That number is higher than the average," said Sharon Larson, a research investigator with Geisinger. "And after being in the schools, it was not necessarily surprising to us."

"They're not getting the physical activity they need," said Grubb. "It's recommended that every child should have 60 minutes of activity a day."

"We see gym classes being almost eliminated, where children are having about 35 minutes per week at the elementary level gym class - that's not 35 minutes a day, that's 35 minutes a week," added Larson.

But both say the CDC recommends 150 minutes a week. And they say research shows physically active children perform better in class.

"We're hoping we can tie all of the things schools need to do together and create a more well-rounded child," said Larson.

Nurses, including Grubb, will now take the study results and try to implement new policies in schools -- anything from more recess and gym time, to less junk food in vending machines.