Photo by Amy Orozco
Taking advantage of the “spider web” on the Canalino School playground are Kristian Nunez on the bottom; Jimmy Persoon, Sean Persoon, site coordinator Chrystal Hoffman and Daisy Nova in the middle row; and Jose Carrillo, Jessica Alvarez and Diana Vences in the top row.
Carpinteria youth are benefiting from a $240,000 grant intended to solve the problem of childhood obesity.

Coming from the point of view that obesity, and its related problems, is the number one chronic problem in children, the Carpinteria Childhood Obesity Intervention Project hopes to improve that statistic through a two-year “Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle” program at the Canalino, Dahlia Court and Carpinteria Camper Park after school programs. Because Latino ethnicity and lower socioeconomic status are correlated highly with obesity, the primary emphasis of the program is directed toward children who live in low income, Latino families.

“This is worse than terrorism, a worse threat than anything from Al-Qaeda,” Dr. Michael Fisher referred to childhood obesity and its medical ramifications, which include diabetes. “This is the first generation with a life expectancy lower than their parents.”

According to Fisher, founder of the Diabetes Resource Center of Santa Barbara County, statistics say that 40 percent of Black and Latino children in California will develop diabetes, and the $30 billion a year spent treating diabetes will go up to $160 billion by 2011. Heart related disease, linked to obesity, is expected to climb exponentially to $240 billion.

Leading the “Healthy Eating and Active Lifestyle” program with Fisher, who serves as a community networker, are Dr. Andria Ruth serving as the medical practitioner and Priscilla Hernandez coordinating the project. Begun last spring, the initiative’s $240,000 grant is financed by the California Endowment and its strategy is to address three causes of obesity: eating habits, physical activity and environment.

Moving children from favored and habitually eaten junk food to a healthier choice presents its challenges, and Chrystal Hoffman, the after school program site coordinator at CanalinoSchool, is taking the gradual approach. “Before it was chips, now it is pretzels or Goldfish. I’m slowly changing it … I want them to eat.”

Hoffman described the after school program as state funded and serving students in grades kindergarten through six who could use some academic help.

“It’s extra enrichment … homework help, art, reinforcement of what they learned in school,” she added.

To incorporate the other aspects of the healthy eating and active lifestyles, Hoffman has received help from the Obesity Initiative in the form of personnel leading soccer and cheerleading programs—the physical activity component, nutrition workshops—the eating habits component, and a vegetable gardening unit, which incorporates both components.

About 60 students participated in Canalino’s after school program in the summer and the number grows to 90 in the academic year.

In the fall, in addition to the Canalino after school program, the healthy eating and active lifestyle program will be at Dahlia Court and Carpinteria Camper Park three days a week, according to Hernandez, who notices “kids become more focused after exercise.” At these sites, classes for adults will be available, too.

With the start of the school year, the program will identify 100 children, referred to them by a teacher, to track. The children’s weight and body mass index (BMI) will be tracked over the two-year period and referred to a pediatrician for follow up. They will also attend a variety of classes given in 10-week sessions throughout the two-year life of the grant. Classes will include the topics of nutrition, exercise and other healthy lifestyle subjects.

All the principals of the program want to involve the community in the healthy eating and active lifestyle approach. Examples include high school students earning community service hours through the program, encouraging restaurants to offer healthier menu options or partnering with local government to ensure locales to be active.

Describing it as a pipe dream, Fisher said he’d like to see an area large enough for children to play and be safe.

“I know if we can get the interest, I can get the money,” he said.

For more information on the Carpinteria Childhood Obesity Intervention Project, contact the Diabetes Resource Center at 687-5586.

Snacking it up
Healthy eating and performing well academically are linked. Following are suggestions for incorporating nutrition into snacks or school lunches.

Pretzels or celery with peanut butter
Cheese and whole wheat crackers
Small boxes of unsweetened cereal
Fruit yogurt
Fruit smoothies
Trail mix made from nuts and dried fruit
Fruit salad or fresh fruit dipped in yogurt
Energy bars
High fiber, low fat muffins
Carrots, cucumbers or bell pepper with a hummus or salsa dip