The Deer Creek Board of Education on Monday passed improvements to their district wellness policy, a move that will impact the health of the over 8,000 students in the Oklahoma County school district.
The policy updates include increasing access to physical activity, nutritious foods, and safe, clean drinking water.
Elevate Student Health worked with the district to recommend updates to the district’s wellness policy based on evidence for what elements would have the greatest impact on youth and staff health.
Elevate Student Health is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) through the Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) program.
“At Deer Creek, we believe student success starts with student well-being,” said Kristy VanDorn, Assistant Superintendent of Deer Creek Public Schools. “Our Health and Wellness Policy and practices ensure we are creating school environments that support the physical, mental, and emotional health of every student and staff member. These guidelines help set clear expectations and reflect our commitment to healthy habits that last a lifetime.”
Most children consume as much as half of their daily calories at school, and so schools have a tremendous opportunity to improve the health of their students. This is why Elevate Student Health partners with districts across the state to improve their wellness policies through greater access to nutritious foods, increased physical activity and more opportunity to drink water throughout the day.
Data from 2023 showed that 16.9% of Oklahoma 6-17 year olds experience obesity, one of the highest rates of childhood obesity in the nation. While weight does not equal health, children with obesity are more likely to develop chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression, lower self-esteem and self-reported lower quality of life.
Physical inactivity and poor nutrition are two of the greatest behavioral risk factors for obesity, and only 26.8% of Oklahoma high school students are physically active at least the recommended 60 minutes per day, while a whopping 22.2% of students drink one or more sodas each day.
###
Elevate Student Health is an initiative working to improve the health of Oklahoma youth through comprehensive physical activity and nutrition policies in schools. It is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). For more information, visit www.ElevateStudentHealth.com.
Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET), is a statewide youth-led initiative that partners with schools and organizations to make meaningful and measurable impact on Oklahoma by promoting healthy behaviors. For more information, visit yahlok.org.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working with local coalitions and initiatives across the state, cultivating innovative and life-changing research and working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public’s health. TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health. To learn more, go to oklahoma.gov/TSET.