The Role of Michigan Schools in Promoting Healthy Weight

Abstract

School personnel in Michigan have expressed serious concerns about childhood weight and have asked for guidance in promoting healthy weight among students. Ideally, statewide recommendations would be based on proven, researchvalidated procedures. Several school-based interventions to reduce excessive weight gain have been evaluated for effectiveness. Some of them have shown positive short-term results, especially in increasing student physical activity and improving student nutrient intake.1-5 Unfortunately, none of the controlled long-term studies of school-based approaches in the United States have shown continued success in reducing overweight.1, 2 Despite that limitation, it is important to assist schools with state-of-the-art information.