Healthline Review for June 2009

NORTH CAROLINA LEGISLATURE PASSES BITTERLY CONTESTED ANTI-BULLYING BILL — By a one-vote margin, the North Carolina House approved anti-bullying legislation that enumerates a dozen specific categories of protected students, sending the measure to Gov. Beverly Perdue for her signature. Opponents charged that the bill was overly focused on the various classes of victims rather than protecting all students by concentrating on the perpetrators. Supporters charged that opponents were really just worried about including gays and lesbians in the bill’s language. "To oppose this bill because you object to one of those categories is to fight the culture wars on the back of a child," one legislator said. The bill specifically defines bullying as acts motivated by a person’s race, color, religion, ancestry, national origin, gender, socioeconomic status, academic status, gender identity, physical appearance, sexual orientation or mental, physical, developmental or sensory disability. While nearly 80 percent of states have anti-bullying laws, only a handful enumerates categories of students in this way. Source:Raleigh News and Observer (6/24/09)

NEW LAW CRIMINALIZES CYBERBULLYING IN TENNESSEE — Cyberbullying became a criminal offense in Tennessee when Gov. Phil Bredesen signed into law a measure that expands existing harassment statutes on June 4. The new law makes it a misdemeanor to electronically communicate with someone “with the malicious intent to frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress or in a manner the defendant knows or reasonably should know would frighten, intimidate or cause emotional distress to a similarly situated person of reasonable sensibilities; and as the result of the communication, the person is frightened, intimidated or emotionally distressed.” Source: Tennessee General Assembly, Pub. Ch. 347

THREE NEW MAINE LAWS TARGET STATE'S OBESITY RATE — Three new laws in Maine are aimed at lowering the state’s obesity rate starting in schools and continuing in restaurants. In one law, schools are required to measure and report students’ body mass index (BMI) to the state, which will use the anonymous data to evaluate existing anti-obesity efforts and plan new ones. The second school-related act contains a plan to assess schools’ physical education programs and improve existing curricula. It also establishes a fund to help elementary schools implement new physical education programs. Finally, as of Feb. 1, 2011, chain restaurants in Maine will have to display the calorie content of menu items. Approximately two-thirds of Maine residents are either overweight or obese, the highest rate in New England. Moreover, a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation suggested that nearly one-quarter of Maine children were obese in 2008. Sources: Bangor Daily News (6/18/09); Kennebec Journal (6/18/09); Office of Gov. John E. Baldacci news release (6/17/09)

NEW OREGON LAW MANDATES SCHOOL BUSES BE RETROFIT TO CONTROL EXHAUST — A new law calls for retrofitting 2,400 of the state’s 4,600 diesel-powered school buses with advanced exhaust controls by 2017. The 251 operating buses built before 1994 will need to be replaced by 2025. A 2008 study showed a decrease in asthma incidents among children by installing retrofits that reduce the high levels of particulates and other air toxins that exacerbate the condition. School districts can use federal grants, stimulus funds, and matching state funds to cover costs for ventilation systems that reduce crankcase leaks (about $1,000) and traps that eliminate tailpipe emissions (about $12,000). Sources: Oregonian (6/8/09); SchoolBusFleet.com (6/29/09)

IOWA LAWMAKERS PUT THE BRAKES ON NUTRITION GUIDELINES — Iowa lawmakers on the Administrative Rules Committee voted to put on hold the strict new nutrition guidelines approved by the State Board of Education due to take effect in the 2010-11 school year. The panel suspended the new standards until next January so legislative standing committees could review the rules regarding which food and drinks would be allowed in school vending machines and lunch lines. Controversy erupted over the ban on carbonated beverages after local officials complained that the rules were unclear and too restrictive. Following passage of the “Healthy Kids Act” in 2008, the legislature asked the Iowa State Department of Education to develop nutrition content standards for food and beverages sold or provided to students during the school day. The Department of Education contends that the state board only followed lawmakers’ lead and approved recommendations from a task force established by the legislature. Source: Radio Iowa (6/9/09); Quad-City Times (6/9/09)

PENNSYLVANIA FUNDS NEW INITIATIVES TO INCREASE STUDENT PHYSICAL ACTIVITY — The Pennsylvania Health and Education departments, in response to new survey results finding that only 38 percent of middle school students get adequate amounts of physical activity, will assist school districts in implementing comprehensive physical education (P.E.) programs. Using federal Preventive Health and Health Services Block Grant funds, the Active Schools Grant program will provide middle schools across the state with $5,000 to implement P.E. programs that meet recommended federal standards for moderate-to-vigorous physical activity. Multiple foundations have agreed to match those funds in a two-to-one ratio. In addition to the Active Schools Grants, the Department of Education now requires after-school and summer program recipients of its $44 million 21st Century Learning Center Grants to adhere to strong physical activity guidelines, which include providing at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity. Sources: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (5/29/09); Pennsylvania Dept. of Health Press Release (5/26/09)

PEDIATRICIANS TO TAKE ON GREATER ROLE TO PREVENT BULLYING — In July, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) will, for the first time, recommend that schools adopt bullying prevention policies and programs that emulate policy models developed by expert Dan Olweus. The model attempts to create a school environment in which bullying is unacceptable and in which peers are turned from being bystanders to being protectors of bullying victims. The new AAP policy supports programs that attempt to change the culture of schools through class discussions, parent meetings, and consistent responses to every incidence of bullying. Dr. Robert Serge, a lead author of the policy statement, added that pediatricians need to engage patients during checkups by opening the door: asking about how school is going, who their friends are, and what they do at recess. The hope is that the new position will help children who are victims and bullies alike to receive help from pediatricians, including working with parents and schools to take action to stop bullying. Source: New York Times (6/9/2009)

WEIGHT ISSUES ARE TIED TO TEEN SUICIDE RISK— According to a U.S. study, teens who were overweight or believed they were overweight were more likely than other teens to attempt suicide. More than 14,000 high school students were evaluated during this study to determine if there was a link between suicide attempts, body mass index (BMI), and a teen’s perception of being overweight. Researchers believe the study’s findings will lead to a better understanding of the link between weight and suicide risk in teens, which could aid in the development of appropriate strategies for suicide prevention. Source: Journal of Adolescent Health (5/18/2009)

RESEARCHERS FIND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS CAN INCREASE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AMONG STUDENTS — A new study conducted by researchers at the University of South Carolina found multiple after-school programs have been successful in increasing physical activity among young people. The study synthesized research published between 1980 and February 2008 that evaluated after-school programs geared toward increasing physical activity in youth ages 18 and younger. The authors found several programs lead to desirable changes in physical activity, physical fitness, body composition, and blood lipid levels. Source: American Journal of Preventive Medicine (June 2009)

SCHOOLS FIND IT DIFFICULT TO DELIVER MORE WHOLE GRAINS TO STUDENTS — Researchers at the University of Minnesota recently found that school meals may pose a barrier to American children eating the recommended three servings of whole-grain foods per day. The authors of the study found food-service directors encounter obstacles such as pricing and locating vendors when attempting to offer more whole grain foods. Another barrier school nutrition directors face is difficulty in determining whether specific foods meet whole-grain criteria. Source: Science Daily (6/8/2009); Journal of Child Nutrition (Spring 2009)

LEADERSHIP FOR HEALTHY COMMUNITIES RELEASES “ACTION STRATEGIES” TOOLKIT — Leadership for Healthy Communities now has a free online Action Strategies Toolkit containing promising and evidence-based policy approaches to improving children’s health and obesity prevention. Leadership for Healthy Communities, a national program of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, was created to support state and local leaders nationwide in their efforts to promote healthy, active communities and access to affordable healthy foods. The Action Strategies Toolkit is at www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org/actionstrategies.