TSET Programs Support Updates to Improve Student and Staff Health
TYRONE, Okla. — The Tyrone Public School Board recently approved enhancements to the district’s wellness policy – positively impacting the health of more than 200 students in the Texas County school district. The new policy includes promoting healthy food and beverage choices, ensuring physical activity for students and making clean drinking water more available and accessible.
Tyrone High School students participating in Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program of the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and a part of the TSET Healthy Youth Initiative played crucial roles in advocating for these updates. Their evidence-based recommendations helped shape the policies to ensure the greatest impact on youth and staff health.
"We applaud the Tyrone Public School Board for taking decisive steps to enhance wellness policies for their students and staff,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “These efforts reflect a dedication to creating healthier learning environments, setting students on a path toward lifelong well-being and success."
Most children consume as much as half of their daily calories at school, so school districts have a tremendous opportunity to improve the health of their students. TSET’s YAHL program partners with districts across the state to improve their wellness policies through greater access to nutritious foods, increased physical activity and providing more opportunities to drink water throughout the day.
Recent data from the Oklahoma Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) shows that about one in three Oklahoma high school students is classified as overweight or obese, one of the highest rates in the nation. Youth with obesity are at increased risk for chronic health conditions, including cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, mental health challenges like anxiety and depression, and lower self-esteem. Physical inactivity and poor nutrition play significant roles, with fewer than half of Oklahoma high school students getting the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity.
Josh Bell, Tyrone Public Schools superintendent, praised students for their advocacy.
“We want to take a moment to express our thanks to our students who worked and dedicated time in updating our school wellness policy,” said Bell. “Your commitment to improving the health and well-being of our school community is inspiring. Thank you for making our school a healthier and happier place for everyone.”
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The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative empowers Oklahoma youth to improve health outcomes for themselves and future generations. The initiative includes statewide public health education messaging, a youth-led advocacy program and character-building to reduce tobacco use and obesity. The initiative also gives parents resources to support their children in maintaining or developing healthy habits for a lifetime. Visit TSETHealthyYouth.com to learn more.
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. To learn more, go to Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health