The Temple School Board passed improvements to their district wellness policy, a move that will impact the health of the over 165 students in the Cotton County school district.
The policy updates include promoting healthy food and beverage choices and appropriate portion sizes, requiring all water sources and containers to be maintained on a regular basis, and ensuring all students participate in a minimum of sixty minutes of physical activity each week.
Four Temple High School students, Destiny Collins, Cheyenne Blackstar, Laura Blackstar and Zoey Hill, participating in Elevate Student Health, recommended updates to the district’s wellness policy based on evidence for what elements would have the greatest impact on youth and staff health. Destiny Collins provided the following quote sharing how proud she is of her school district for improving their wellness policy:
"I truly believe this policy is more than just a set of rules; it is a testament to the fact that student health genuinely matters. Healthy students are high-performing students and athletes, as health is the very foundation upon which academic success, personal growth, and peak athletic performance are built. School should be a place where young minds and bodies can thrive, unencumbered by preventable health risks. This policy helps create a stronger, healthier environment where students can excel in both sports and academics. Seeing our school recognize the importance of this policy and choose to implement it makes me incredibly proud."
Elevate Student Health is funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) through the Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL) program.
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 opportunities to drink water throughout the day.
Data from the Oklahoma State Department of Health shows almost 18% of Oklahoma high school students are obese, one of the highest rates 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 remain two of the leading behavioral risk factors for obesity. In Oklahoma, only 26.8 percent of high school students get the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, and roughly 15 percent drink soda two or more times per day.
Erica Hill, the Superintendent of Temple Public Schools said:
"At Temple Schools, we believe student success goes beyond academics. We are committed to promoting overall wellness by creating healthy environments, encouraging positive habits, and supporting the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of our students and staff. We are especially excited to collaborate with our YAHL team as we develop and strengthen our wellness plan so we can most effectively meet the needs of our students and school community."
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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 meaningful and measurable impact on Oklahoma by promoting healthy behaviors. For more information, visit yahlok.org.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is building a healthier future for all Oklahomans. As a state grantmaking entity, TSET supports community programs, public health initiatives and research to prevent the leading causes of chronic disease. TSET grants and partnerships help to reduce tobacco use, improve nutrition, advance medicine and increase access to active, healthy living. Created by voters and funded by the Master Settlement Agreement, TSET is creating lasting change in schools, workplaces and communities across the state. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/TSET.