Oklahoma teens participate in a National Day of Action to educate their peers about nutrition, physical activity and safe, clean drinking water.
High school youth throughout Oklahoma working on the Elevate Student Health campaign hosted event tables and interactive activities at Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) partner schools and organizations for Healthy Youth Day. YAHL is a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.
During the events, youth collected surveys about wellness at their schools and invited participants to play an interactive game to learn more about their school wellness policies while earning a healthy snack. Healthy Youth Day is a part of Every Kid Healthy Week, an annual celebration of school health and wellness achievements established by Action for Healthy Kids. This National Week of Action highlights the steps schools and families are taking to support youth health and recognizes the connection between nutrition, physical activity, mental health and learning. This marks the third year YAHL partner schools have participated in Healthy Youth Day, providing students an opportunity to support a nationwide initiative and advocate for healthier school environments.
“I have seen the health of today's youth improve student by student through Elevate Student Health. I understand that we, the youth, are the future of a healthy lifestyle and by participating in the campaign, I am able to contribute and live healthy,” said Khloe Tungate, a sophomore at Shawnee High School.
Most children consume as much as half of their daily calories at school, giving schools a tremendous opportunity to influence student health. Elevate Student Health partners with districts across Oklahoma to strengthen school wellness policies by increasing access to nutritious foods, expanding opportunities for physical activity and promoting access to clean drinking water throughout the day.
Data from 2023 showed that 16.9 percent of Oklahoma 6- to 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 percent of Oklahoma high school students are physically active at least the recommended 60 minutes per day, while 22.2 percent of students drink one or more sodas each day.
Participation in Healthy Youth Day amplifies youth voices and empowers students to educate their peers and communities about the importance of healthy behaviors. As Oklahoma works toward a healthier generation, youth leadership plays a critical role in promoting wellness and supporting healthier school environments.
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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 a 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.